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NX.    STATE    UNIVERSITY      DH     HILL    LIBRARY 


S00255297  U 


This  book  IS  due  on  the  date  indicated 
below  and  is  subject  to  an  overdue 
line  as  posted  at  the  circulation  desk 


EXCEPTION:  Date  due  will  be 
earlier  if  this  item  is  RECALLED. 


DEC  0  6  ^01 


s# 


^ 


m^  4  2002 


#..5 


APR  i  ^  ZOOS 

200M/09-98-981815 


THE 


WOODS  AND  TIMBERS 


OF 


NORTH  CAROLINA 


By  p.  M.  hale. 


A  Compilation  from    the  Botanical  and  Geological   Re- 
ports of  Drs.  Curtis,  Emmons  and  Kerr;  to  which 
are  added  information  obtained  from  the 
Census    Bureau   r.nd  Accurate 
Reports  fronn  the  sev- 
eral   Counties. 


RALEIGH: 

P.  M.  HALE,  PUBLISHEK. 

NEW  YORK:    E.  J.   HALE  &  SON. 

1883. 


Copyright,  1883. 


PUBLISHER'S  PREFACE. 


So  abundantly  supplied  were  the  older  States  with  na- 
tive timber  growth,  that  questions  relating  to  its  perma- 
nence appear  not  to  have  suggested  investigation  through 
a  long  period.  In  new  States  and  in  the  Territories  the 
absence  of  forests  has  been  felt  severely,  and  the  supply 
of  their  needs  added  to  home  waste  has  made  the  forestry 
question  prominent  and  of  practical  importance.  Sup- 
plies have  been  found  scarce,  and  prices  have  advanced 
to  a  degree  that  is  sensibly  felt  by  all  classes  of  the 
population. 

The  forest  wealth  of  North  Carolina,  it  is  believed,  ex- 
ceeds that  of  any  State.  Little  was  known  of  it,  except 
to  Botanists,  until  a  very  recent  date.  The  exhibition  of 
woods  at  the  Atlanta  Exposition  by  the  State  Department 
of  Agriculture  and  by  the  Richmond  and  Danville  Rail- 
road Company  attracted  universal  attention  and  admira- 
tion, and  made  it  plain  that  the  time  is  at  hand  when  the 
forests  of  North  Carolina,  if  properly  worked,  will  yield 
larger  income  than  all  her  beds  of  gold.  Frequent 
inquiry  from  all  sections  of  the  country  followed,  and  the 
exhibition  made  by  the  Richmond  and  Danville  Company 
at  the  New  England  Manufacturers'  and  Mechanics' 
Institute  has  stimulated  the  public  desire  for  information. 
The  publisher  hopes  that  this  volume  may  supply  it. 

In  18G0,  the  State  published  as  part  of  the  Geological 
Survey,  then  under  the  direction  of  the  distinguished  Dr. 


m^' 


4  PUBLISHER  S    PREFACE. 

Emmons  of  New  York,  a  small  edition  of  a  volume  known 
to  Botanists  in  this  country  and  in  Europe  as  Dr.  Curtis's 
Woody  Plants  of  North  Carolhsta.  The  publication 
placed  North  Carolina  among  the  foremost  of  the  States 
in  respect  to  the  completeness  as  well  as  the  scientific  ac- 
curacy of  the  knowledge  of  her  singular  botanical  wealth, 
which  had  engaged  the  interest  and  study  of  the  most 
famous  European  and  American  Botanists  for  nearly  one 
hundred  years.  Its  circulation  was  confined  to  scientists, 
and  the  volume  has  been  long  out  of  print.  It  is  repro- 
duced here  in  full. 

To  these  Reports  of  Dr.  Emmons  and  Dr.  Curtis  have 
been  added  the  later  observations  made  by  Dr.  W.  C. 
Kerr,  State  Geologist  since  the  death  of  Dr.  Emmons, 
and  now  Geologist  in  charge  of  the  Southern  Division  of 
the  United  States  Geological  Survey  ;  such  information 
as  was  obtained  in  1880  by  the  Census  Department  for 
publication  in  the  Census  Reports  when  printed  ;  and, 
perhaps  more  satisfactory  than  these,  reports  from  the  sev- 
eral counties  of  the  State  obtained  during  the  present 
year.  These  are  entirely  trustworthy.  An  exceptionally 
large  acquaintance  throughout  the  State,  and  access  for 
this  purpose  to  the  lists  of  correspondents  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  have  made  it  comparativelj^-  easy 
for  the  publisher  to  obtain  accurate  information.  The 
initials  at  the  end  of  each  county  letter  will  be  readily 
recognized  as  those  of  citizens  well-informed  and  reliable, 
and  with  no  private  ends  to  serve. 

An  accurate  map  of  the  State,  on  which  are  traced  all 
its  railroad  routes,  will  be  of  use  to  those  whom  business 
or  pleasure  may  attract  to  North  Carolina. 

Raleigh,  Dec.  20,  1882. 


CONTENTS. 


PART  I.— The  Woody  Plants. 

Page. 

Dr.  Emmons's  Report, 11 

Index  to  Woody  Plants, 15 

Dr.  Curtis's  Preface,     .          .         .          .         .          .  19 

Trees  of  North  Carolina,           .....  35 

Shrubs  of  North  Carolina,             ....  134 

Vines  of  North  Carolina, 178 

Tabular  View  of  Species,      .         .         .         .         .  194 

Minor  Plants, 197 

PART  II.— Forest  Statistics. 

Forests  of  North  Carolina,           ....  201 

Farms  of  North  Carolina,         .....  255 

Population  of  North  Carolina,     ....  258 

PART  III.— Facilities  for  Travel. 

The  Railroads  of  North  Carolina,     .         .         .         .263 
Map  of  North  Carolina. 


PART  I. 


THE   WOODY   PLANTS 


OP 


NORTH  CAROLINA, 


GEOLOGICAL 


AND 


NATURAL  HISTORY  SURVEY 


OP 


North  Carolina 


PART  III.— BOTANY. 


THE    WOODY    PLANTS    OF   THE    STATE,   WITH 

DESCRIPTIONS  OF  THE  TREES,  SHRUBS, 

AND  WOODY  VINES. 


BY 

Rev.  M.  a.  CURTIS,  D.  D. 


REPORT  OF  THE  STATE  GEOLOGIST, 


RALEIGH,  June  1st,  18G0. 

To  His  Excellency^  John  W.  Ellis, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina  : 

Sir  :    I  herewith  transmit  the  Report  of  the  Rev. 
M.  A.  Curtis,  D.  D.,  upon  the  Woody  Plants  of 

this  State. 

The  value  of  this  Report  is  greatly  enhanced  by 
the  fact  that  it  embodies  the  labor  of  more  tlian 
twent}'  years.  Dr.  Curtis,  in  reviewing  the  whole 
subject  with  a  view  to  a  publication  of  the  results  of 
his  labor,  has  felt  constrained  to  furnish  descriptions 
of  only  the  most  conspicuous  and  important  plants 
indigenous  to  the  State ;  and  of  the  less  important 
ones  a  Catalogue  simply,  noticing,  with  each  species, 
its  geographical  range  in  the  State,  and,  where  desir- 
able, its  economical  or  medicinal  uses. 
'  Notwithstanding  the  latter  portion  of  his  Report 
may  thus  appear  to  consist  chiefly  of  technical  names, 
and  thus  be  of  no  general  practical  use,  it  will  be 
regarded  by  the  scientific  public  as  a  contribution  of 
great  value,  not  merely  for  its  indication  of  tlie  veg- 
etable productions  of  this  State,  Init  also  as  contain- 
ing a  large  amount  of  information  not  elsewhere  to 
be  found.     The  position  of  this  State  is  such  that  it 

jfgffgrr  UBiAsr 


12          DR.    CUETIS    TO.  THE    STATE    GEOLOGIST. 

forms  the  north  and  south  limits  of  many  interesting 
productions  in  Natural  History,  belonging  both  to 
the  vegetable'  and  animal  kingdoms  ;  and  it  has  been 
regarded  an  important  Avork  to  fix  definitely  the  true 
north  and  south  boundaries  of  species  belonging  to 
these  kingdoms.* 

In  view  of  these  considerations,  together  with 
many  others  which  will,  no  doubt,  be  suggested  on 
reflection  upon  the  whole  subject,  it  is  hoped  that 
your  Excellency,  with  the  Honorable  Gentlemen 
constituting  the  Literary  Board,  will  give  pub- 
licity to  the  labors  of  Dr.  Curtis,  who  has  consented 
to  assist  me  in  this  part  of  the  State  Survey. 
I  am,  Sir, 

Your  obedient  Servant, 

E.  EMMONS, 

State  Geologist. 


Dr.  Curtis  to  the  State  Geologist. 


To  Prof.  E.  Emmons,  Geologist 

of  the  State  of  Noi'tTi  Carolina  : 

Dear  Sir  :  In  compliance  with  your  request,  that 
I  would  furnish,  in  connection  with  your  general 
Survey  of  the  natural  resources  of  the  State,  an  ac- 
count of  its  vegetable  productions,  I  have  prepared 
the  following  paper  upon  the  Woody  Plants  of 


DR.   CURTIS   TO   THE   STATE   GEOLOGIST.  13 

North  Carolina.  I  have  brought  these  together  in 
one  view,  because  they  are  the  most  important,  the 
best  known,  and  can  be  more  intelligibly  arranged 
for  general  use,  than  upon  a  plan  strictly  scientific. 
Botanists  will  of  course  find  fault  with  it ;  but  as 
my  sole  purpose  herein  is  to  make  this  essay  of  pop- 
ular service,  and  as  intelligible  as  possible  to  those 
who  know  nothing  of  systems  and  would  not  take 
the  time  or  trouble  to  master  a  scientific  treatise,  I 
have  adopted  the  present  course  as  the  most  likely 
one  that  occurred  to  me  to  accomplish  the  end  pro- 
posed. It  has  its  difficulties,  as  you  will  readily  see, 
but  you  will  at  the  same  time  confess,  I  think,  that, 
though  it  might  be  better  done,  the  end  could  not  be 
so  well  attained  but  by  some  such  arrangement.  I 
must  therefore  crave  your  indulgence  for  this  de- 
parture from  established  usage  in  this  first  portion 
of  my  Report. 

I  have  felt  somewhat  hampered  by  the  limits  to 
which  I  was  restricted,  and,  as  it  is,  have  unavoid- 
ably overrun  them  ;  but  I  hope,  nevertheless,  that 
nothing  essential  has  been  often  omitted,  either  in 
the  descriptions,  or  in  noticing  the  valuable  uses,  of 
the  various  Trees,  Shrubs,  and  Vines  of  the  State. 
In  instances  where  the  plant  is  well  known  and 
needed  no  discrimination  from  similar  or  kindred 
species,  I  have  omitted  all  description,  as  being  in 
such  cases  superfluous.  But  whenever  one  is  less 
known,  or  may  be  easily  confounded  with  others,  I 
have  endeavored  to  present  all  the  distinctive  char- 


14  DE.    CURTIS    TO    THE    STATE'  GEOLOGIST. 

acters  by  which  it  may  be  discriminated  from  them. 
How  far  I  have  been  successful  must  be  left  to  the 
proof  by  trial ;  but  I  am  pretty  confident  that  a  per- 
son wholly  unpracticed  in  this  kind  of  investigation 
can,  by  means  of  the  Tabular  View  given  at  the  end 
of  this  Report,  very  soon  learn  to  discriminate  and 
find  the  name  of  most  of  the  Woody  Plants  of  the 
State. 

I  will  state  in  conclusion,  what  you  were  not  be- 
fore aware  of,  that  this  Report  is  one  of  the  fruits  of 
your  long  continued  service  in  the  field  of  Science. 
My  first  knowledge  of  the  elementary  terms  of  Bot- 
any was  derived  from  yourself  and  your  distinguished 
Preceptor,  Prof.  Eaton,  at  the  beginning  of  your 
public  career.  Though  I  was  then  too  young  to  be 
admitted  to  your  course  of  instruction,  an  impulse 
was  then  given  which  never  abated,  and  now,  forty 
years  afterward,  returns  back  to  you  with  this  hum- 
ble offering.  The  contribution  is,  therefore,  most 
appropriately  put  into  your  hands  by 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

M.  A.  CURTIS. 


INDEX. 


[N.  B.    Names  in  Italics  are  synonymes  of  otliers  in  the  Index.] 


PAGE. 

PAGE. 

Alder, 174 

Bursting  Heart,    .     . 

165 

"      Dwarf, 

170 

Butternut,      .... 

77 

"      White, 

162 

Button  Bush,    .     .     . 

172 

(Andromeda,) 

155 

Button  Wood,  .     .     . 

126 

Apple,  Crab, 

115 

Cabbage  Tree,  .     .     . 

.     108 

Arbor  Vitas, 

175 

Calico  Bush,      .     .     . 

.     160 

Arrow  Wood, 

147 

Cane, 

.     175 

(Ascyrum,)  . 

176 

Canoe  Wood,    .     .     . 

128 

Ash,     .     .     . 

89 

(Cassandra,)      .     .     . 

157 

"    Mountain, 

116 

Catalpa, 

84 

"    Prickly, 

148,166 

Cedar,  Red 

118 

"    Stinkhig, 

89 

"      White,  .     .     . 

49 

Aspen,.     .     , 

120 

Cherry, 

94 

(Atragene,)  . 

193 

Chestnut,      .... 

78 

Balsam,   .     . 

46 

China  Root,      .     .     . 

186 

Bamboo,  .     . 

186 

China  Tree,      .     .     . 

108 

Barberry,      . 

137 

Chinquapin,       .     .     . 

79 

Bass  Wood, 

129 

Choke  Berry,    ... 

115 

Bav,  Loblolly, 

132 

(Cocculus,)    .... 

188 

"■'    Red,     : 

106 

Coffee  Tree,      .     .     . 

84 

"     Sweet,. 

110 

Coral  Berry,     .     .     . 

142 

Bearberry,    . 

140 

(Cornus,)      .... 

101 

Bear  Grass,  . 

153 

Cotton  Tree,     .     .     . 

121 

Beech,      .     . 

79 

Cranberry,    .... 

142 

"      Water, 

126 

Creeper,  Virginia, 

184 

Birch,  ... 

122 

Cross  Vine,  .... 

190 

Bittersweet, 

191 

Cucumber  Tree,    .    . 

111 

Blackberry,  . 

143-144 

Currant, 

138-139 

Bladder  Nut, 

173 

Cypress, 

51-  53 

Box,     .     .     . 

172 

(Darby  a,)     .... 

170 

Box  Elder,    . 

.       89 

(Deeumaria,)     .     .     . 

192 

Box  Wood,  . 

101 

Deer  Berry,      .     .     . 

141 

Buckeye, 

80 

Devil's  Slioe  Strings, . 

148 

(Buckley  a,) 

169 

Devil  Wood,     .     .     . 

96 

Buckthorn,  . 

109 

Dew  Berry,  .... 

144 

Carolina, 

150 

Dog  Wood,  .... 

101 

Buffalo  Tree,    .     . 

154 

"         "     Striped,     . 

88 

Burning  Bush, 

. 

165 

Eglantine,     .... 

145 

16 


INDEX. 


Elder,  .     .     . 

"     Marsh, 
Elm,    .     .     . 
Fern,  Sweet, 
Fetter  Bush, 
Fever  Bush, 
Fir,      .     .     . 
Fish  Wood,     . 
Flowering  Moss, 
(Forsteronia,) 
Fringe  Tree, 
Gall  Berry, 
Goose  Berry, 
Goose  Berry, 
Grapes,  - .     . 
Groundsel,    . 
Gum,  Black, 

"  Sweet, 
Hackberry,  . 
Hardhack,  . 
Hazel  Nut,  . 
Hazel,  Witch, 
Haw,  Black, 

"  Bed,  . 
Heath,  False, 
Hemlock, 
Hemlock  Spruce, 
Hickory,  .  . 
Hobble  Bush, 
Holly,  .     .     . 

"     Dahoon, 
Honeysuckle, 
Hop  Tree,    . 
Hornbeam,  . 

Hop, 
Huckleberry, 

He, 
(Hudsonia,) 
Hydrangea, 
(liex,)      .    . 
Indian  Physic, 
Ink  Berry,    . 
Iron  Wood,  . 
(Itea,)      .     . 
Ivy,      ... 
Jessamine,    . 
Jumper,    .     . 
Laurel,     .    . 


PAGE. 

145 
174 

91 
171 
155 
149 

46 
165 
176 
191 
154 
100 
138 
139 

178-184 
174 
103 
127 
103 
167 
172 
170 
146 
134 
162 
156 

49 

71 
148 

97 

98 
158-159 
172-173 
125 
125 

139-141 
169 
176 
163 

97-100 
113 
100 
125 
162 
160 
190 

48 
157 


Laurel,  Big, 
"      ^og,  .     . 
"      High  Bush 
"      Sheep,    . 

Leather  Wood, 

(Leucothoe,) 

Lime  Tree,  .     . 

Linden,     .     .     . 

Linn  Tree,   .     . 

Locust,     .     .     . 
"      Honey,    . 

Loosestrife,  .     . 

Magnolia,     .     . 

Maple,     .     .    . 

Meadow  Sweet, 

Mistletoe,     .     . 

Mock  Orange,  . 

Moonseed,    .     . 

Moose  Wood,   . 

Mountain  Tea, 

Mulberry,     .     . 
"        Bermuda, 

Myrtle,  Sand,   . 
Wax,  . 

Nettle  Tree,  .     . 

Neic  Jersey  Tea, 

Nine  Bark,   .     . 

Oak 

Oil  Nut,   .     .     . 

Old  Man's  Beard, 

Palmetto,     .     . 
Dwarf, 

Papaw,     .    .    . 

Pellitory,       .     . 

Pepper  Bush,    . 
"      Mountain, 
"       Sweet,  . 

Pepperidge,  . 

Persimmon, 

Pines, .     .     .     , 

Planer  Tree, 

Plane  Tree,  . 

Plums,      .     . 

Poison  Oak, 

Poison  Vine, 

(Polygonella,) 

JPond  Bush,  . 

Poplar,     .     . 


PAGE. 

110 
156 
109 
161 
149 
156 
129 
129 
129 

82-  83 

83 
175 
110 

85-  89 
167 
143 

96,164 
189 


152 
117 
143 
161 
171 
103 
168 
167 

53 
154 
154 
107 
108 

152-153 
167 
155 
162 
162 
104 
116 

35-  46 
133 
126 

93-  94 
152 


71 


189 
177 
149 
128 


INDEX. 


17 


PAGE. 

PAGE. 

Poplar,  Carolina,   .    . 

120 

Sweet  Brier 145 

Pride  of  ludia,      .     . 

108 

Sweet  Fern, 

171 

Privet, 

149 

Sweet  Leaf, 

109 

Queeu  of  the  Meadow, 

167 

Sweet  Shrub, 

173-174 

Kaspberry,    .... 

144 

Sycamore,    . 

126 

Pattan, 

188 

Syriuga,  .     . 

163 

PedBud,      .... 

84 

Tangle  Legs, 

148 

Ped  Poot,     .... 

168 

Thorn  Tree, 

135-137 

Peed, 

176 

Toothache  Tree, 

166 

Pock  Pose,  .... 

176 

Trailing  iArlutus, 

176 

Pose, 

144-145 

Trumpet  Flower, 

189 

(Sageretia,)  .... 

188 

Tulip  Tree,    .  . 

128 

Sarsaparilla,     .     .     . 

186 

Tupelo,     .     .     . 

104 

Big,    .     . 

192 

Umbrella  Tree, 

111 

Sassafras,     .... 

105 

Virginia  Creeper, 

184 

Service  Tree,    .     .     . 

114 

Virgin's  Bower, 

192-193 

Sheep  Berry,    .     .     . 

147 

Wahoo,    .     .     . 

92 

Sloe,  

94 

Walnut.    .     .     . 

76-  78 

Snow  Drop  Tree, 

132 

Wax  W^ork,      . 

191 

Sorrel  Tree,      .     .     . 

131 

Wayfarer's  Tree, 

148 

Sour  Wood,      .     .     . 

131 

Wfnte  Wood,    . 

129 

Spanish  Bayonet, 

.     153 

Wicky,     .     .    . 

161 

Sparkleberry,    .     .     . 

.     142 

Wild  Allspice, 

.     149 

Spice  Bush,       .     .     . 

.     149 

Wild  Ginger,    . 

.     192 

Spruce, 

.       48-  49 

Willow,    .     .     . 

.     123-124 

Staffffer  Bush,  .     .     . 

.     155 

Wine  Tree,  .     . 

.     116 

(Stillingia,)  .... 

.     165 

Winterherry, 

.     100 

Strawberry  Bush, 

.     165 

Wivtergreen,      . 

.     152 

(Stuartia,)    .... 

.     166 

Woodbine,    .     . 

.     185 

Sumach 

.     150-151 

Yellow  Poot,    . 

.     168 

"      Mountain, 

.     116 

Yellow  Wood,  . 

.     109 

Supple  Jack,     .    .    . 

.     188 

Yopon,  . 

. 

.       98 

PREFACE. 


The  Plants  of  North  Carolina  have  long  been  con- 
sidered by  Botanists  as  unsurpassed  in  variety  and 
beauty  by  those  of  any  States  of  the  Union,  except- 
ing a  few  of  those  which  lie  upon  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
The  Flora  of  this  State  should  properly  be  regarded 
as  forming  the  transition  between  the  Northern  and 
Southern  Botanical  Districts,  as  it  is  within  our 
boundaries  that  many  of  the  Northern  plants  have 
their  Southern  limits,  and  some  of  those  which  form 
a  peculiar  feature  of  Southern  vegetation  commence. 
Of  the  latter  species  are  the  Pond  Pine^  several 
Magnolias^  Palmetto^  &c.  There  is  still  another  cir- 
cumstance which  gives  a  much  greater  variety  to  our 
vegetation  than  could  be  derived  from  mere  differ- 
ence of  2 1  degrees  of  latitude  between  her  Northern 
and  Southern  boundaries.  The  Mountains  on  the 
Western  border  of  the  State  are  several  liundred  feet 
higher  than  any  others  in  the  Union,  so  that  tlie  dif- 
ference of  elevation  between  these  and  our  sea-coast 
occasions  a  difference  of  vegetation  equal  to  that  of 
10  or  12  degrees  of  latitude.  Thus  upon  tlie  higher 
summits  are  found  species  such  as  belong  to  the 
White  Mountains  of  New  Hampshire,  those  in  the 
N.  E.  part  of  New  York,  and  to  Canada.     The  inter- 


20  '  PREFACE. 

vening  ranges  of  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  partake 
in  part  only  of  the  same  peculiarities,  but  the  greater 
elevation  of  some  of  our  summits  permits  the  growth 
of  some  species  which  are  unknown  between  them 
and  the  Northern  regions  above  mentioned. 

In  the  distribution  of  Plants  over  the  State  we 
have  three  distinctly  marked  Districts,  as  well  char- 
acterized by  their  Flora  as  by  their  Geological  feat- 
ures. As  in  the  Geology  of  the  State  the  peculiar 
formation  of  one  District  may  penetrate,  overlie,  or 
underlie  that  of  another,  yet  the  predominating  char- 
acters of  each  be  sufficiently  marked  and  striking  to 
arrest  the  notice  of  the  most  casual  observer;  so  it 
is  with  the  vegetation  of  these  Districts.  The  anal- 
ogy of  distribution  between  the  objects  of  these  sci- 
ences may  be  extended  still  further.  For  as,  in  the 
one  case,  we  often  meet  with  misplaced  Rocks,  so,  in 
the  other,  the  Botanist  is  sometimes  surprised  by 
meeting  with  species  of  Plants  quite  out  of  tlieir 
proper  range,  and  for  whose  location  it  is  not  always 
easy  to  account.  Thus  the  Cranberry^  an  inhabitant 
of  elevated  regions  and  not  uncommon  in  our  Moun- 
tain Marshes,  is  also  found,  to  a  limited  extent,  in 
the  low  lands  of  the  Northeastern  part  of  the  State. 
The  beautiful  Calico  Bush^  or  Ivy^  rarely  found  but 
in  rocky  regions,  as  in  the  mountains  or  along  the 
rocky  banks  of  watercourses,  occurs  abundantly  in 
the  Dismal  Swamp,  especially  along  the  line  of  the 
Canal.  The  pretty  Roanoke  Bell  (Mertensia  Virgin- 
ica),  a  native  of  the  Mountains,  is  scattered  along 


PREFACE.  21 

the  banks  of  the  river  from  which,  in  this  State,  it 
derives  its  name,  as  far  down  as  Halifax  County.  In 
this  last  case,  and  perhaps  in  some  others,  we  may 
suppose  that  seeds  have  been  carried  down  by 
streams  which  head  in  the  mountains.  But  in  regard 
to  some  species,  as  the  fragrant  Wintergreen  or  Moun- 
tain Tea  (Gaultheria  procumbens),  they  sometimes 
attain  such  a  Avide  distribution  in  their  new  (?)  posi- 
tion, and  at  such  a  distance  from  the  larger  streams, 
as  to  suggest  a  doubt  whether  they  are  not  truly  in- 
digenous ^to  the  spots  they  occupy.  Still,  as  above 
remarked,  the  general  aspect  of  the  vegetation  of 
either  region  is  no  more  affected  by  these  rare  excep- 
tions, than  is  that  of  the  geological  features  of  a  dis- 
trict by  a  few  scattering  bowlders.  The  most  care- 
less observer  cannot  fail  to  observe  how  essentially 
the  vegetation  changes,  as  he  passes  from  our  sandy 
low  country  into  the  red  clay  region  of  the  middle 
country.  The  difference  is  as  remarkable  as  that  of 
the  soils.  The  absence  of  the  Long-leaf  Pine  marks 
the  transition  to  the  Middle  Botanical  District.  A 
line  drawn  from  Blakely  on  the  Roanoke,  in  the 
direction  of  Cheraw  on  the  Pee  Dee,  will  very  nearly 
indicate  the  Western  termination  of  the  Lower  Dis- 
trict ;  although  the  actual  boundary  limit  between 
these  two  is  as  irregular  as  a  line  of  sea-coast,  which, 
very  probably,  this  once  was.  Occasionally,  as  before 
hinted,  the  vegetation  of  the  LoAver  District  is  found 
considerably  overlapping  that  of  the  Middle,  and  the 
Long-leaf  Pine  to  occur  some  miles  within  the  red 


22  PREFACE. 

clay  region.  Thus  a  patch  of  this  tree  may  be  seen 
on  the  gravelly  hills  eight  miles  west  of  Wadesboro, 
which  is  probably  the  most  western  limit  of  its  ap- 
pearance within  the  State.  Not  unfrequently  also 
there  are  found  small  portions  of  land  in  the  Middle 
District,  very  much  resembling  the  savannas  and  low 
pine  woods  of  the  Lower,  the  soil  being  sandy,  turfed 
with  coarse  grasses,  and  shaded  with  Short-leaved 
Pines.  In  these  situations,  which  are  met  with  as 
far  west  as  Henderson  County,  will  alwaj^s  be  found 
some  species  of  plants  which,  except  in  such  places, 
are  peculiar  to  the  Lower  District. 

The  Lower  District  might  easily  be  divided  into 
three  Botanical  regions,  each  characterized  by  certain 
species  of  plants  of  well  defined  range.  These  will 
be  only  indicated,  as  details  are  unnecessary  to  the 
purpose  in  view.  The  first  region  includes  only  the 
line  of  sea-coast  which  produces  maritime  species,  or 
those  which  grow  only  within  the  influence  of  a 
saline  atmosphere.  These  are  not  numerous,  and  the 
only  ones  of  much  note  are  the  Live  Oak  and  Pal- 
metto. The  second  region  extends  inland  as  far  as 
the  Long  Moss  is  produced.  The  third,  from  thence 
to  the  Middle  District. 

The  Middle  District  reaches  westward  to  the  base 
of  the  Blue  Ridge.  In  this  the  forests  are  character- 
ized by  a  predominance  of  Oahs.,  as  the  Lower  is  by 
the  presence  of  Pines.  It  is  far  less  productive  of 
rare  and  peculiar  plants  than  either  of  the  others. 
Though  it  furnishes  some  that  do  not  belong  to  the 


PREFACE.  23 

others,  the  great  majority  of  them  are  common  over 
a  kirge  portion  of  the  Southern  and  IMiddle  States. 
I  cannot  recall  any  one  species  which  can  be  con- 
sidered as  giving  a  character  to  this  district  distinct 
from  that  of  the  States  lying  north  or  south  of  it. 
There  are,  indeed,  a  few  of  the  smaller  plants  whicn 
are  not  found  elsewhere,  but  these  are  so  rare  and 
inconspicuous  as  not  to  form  a  noticeable  feature  in 
the  vegetation  of  this  district. 

The  Upper  or  Mountain  District  is  as  peculiar  and 
interesting  in  its  vegetable  products  as  it  is  attractive 
in  its  scenery.  The  ascent  of  every  hundred  feet 
presents  new  and  varying  species,  until  we  reach  the 
region  of  the  dark  and  sombre  Firs^  where  we  have 
a  vegetation  almost  entirely  Northern.  There  is  also 
a  striking  peculiarity  in  the  vegetation  of  these 
higher  regions,  which  can  rarely  fail  to  arrest  the 
eye  of  a  visitor  from  the  Lower  or  Middle  Districts, 
in  the  profusion  of  graceful  Ferns  and  delicate  Mosses 
that  cover  the  earth,  and  of  numerous  and  various 
colored  Lichens  that  clothe  the  rocks  and  trees. 
These,  for  the  most  part,  are  identical  Avith  species 
found  in  the  mountains  of  the  Northern  States,  and 
many  are  common  to  similar  situations  in  the  Old 
World ;  though  there  are  some  which  seem  to  be 
confined  to  our  own  mountains.  In  these  orders  of 
Plants  this  district  abounds  much  beyond  the  product 
of  all  the  rest  of  the  State,  and  he  Avho  delights  in 
their  study  could  scarcely  find  elsewhere  a  more  lux- 
uriant field  for  observation   or  collection.     But  not 


24  PREFACE. 

less  peculiar,  and  what  is  still  more  likely  to  attract 
the  attention  of  the  common  observer,  are  the  variety 
and  beauty  of  stately  trees  and  ornamental  shrubs, 
whicli  are  found  in  no  other  part  of  the  State.  In- 
deed, in  all  the  elements  which  render  forest  scenery 
attractive,  we  may  safely  say  that  no  portion  of  the 
Eastern  United  States  presents  them  in  happier  com- 
bination, in  greater  perfection,  or  in  larger  extent, 
than  do  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina,  especially 
in  the  counties  of  Yancey,  Buncombe,  Burke,  and 
Haywood. 

From  the  great  elevation  and  extent  of  our  Moun- 
tains, supplying  many  forms  of  plants  proper  to  much 
higher  latitudes,  besides  a  large  number  peculiar  to 
the  Sor^thern  ranges,  it  is  not  surprising  that  these 
Mountains  attracted  the  early  attention  of  Botanists, 
and  that  they  have  continued  to  be  visited  by  a 
larger  number  of  them  than  has  any  other  portion 
of  our  country.  A  brief  account  of  these  Botanists, 
and  of  those  who  have  examined  other  parts  of  the 
State,  will  be  an  appropriate  introduction  to  the 
accompanying  list  and  description  of  the  objects  by 
them  first  brought  to  public  notice. 

William  Bap.tram,  of  Philadelphia,  visited  the 
Mountains  of  Cherokee  in  1776.  He  also  passed 
through  the  lower  section  of  the  State.  An  interest- 
ing volume  of  his  "  Travels  "  was  published  in  Lon- 
don, but  the  book  has  been  long  out  of  print. 

Andre  Michaux,  under  the  patronage  of  the 
French  government,  visited  the  same  region  in  1787. 


ft    i.ii**^AiO' 


PREFACE.  25 

In  the  following  3-ear  he  explored  twice  the  IMoun- 
tains  of  Burke  and  Yancey  counties,  carrying  away 
in  the  Fall  2,500  specimens  of  trees,  shrubs,  and 
plants.  In  1794  he  again  visited  the  same  region, 
ascending  Linville,  Black,  Yellow,  Roan,  Grandfather, 
and  Table  Mountains.  In  the  following  year  he 
twice  passed  over  portions  of  the  same.  Traditions 
of  this  indefatigable  and  eccentric  traveler  are  cur- 
rent in  the  western  counties,  and  persons  are  prob- 
ably yet  living  wdio  remember  him.  The  late  Col. 
Davenport,  of  the  Yadkin  Valley,  was  his  guide  on 
several  occasions,  A  very  large  and  interesting  por- 
tion of  our  mountain  species  w^as  first  discovered  by 
Michaux,  and  published  in  his  "  Flora  Boreali-Ame- 
ricana,"  which  is  yet  a  standard  and  classical  work 
in  Botanical  literature.  With  rare  exceptions  his 
species  have  been  since  identified  by  other  explorers. 
Mr.  Fkasee,,  a  Scotchman,  made  botanical  collec- 
tions in  our  mountains  between  the  years  1787  and 
1789.  Under  the  patronage  of  the  Russian  govern- 
ment he  explored  them  again  in  1799,  accompanied 
by  his  eldest  son.  It  was  on  this  journey  that  the 
splendid  Laurel^  or  Rhododendron  Catawbiense  of 
Botanists,  was  discovered,  which,  with  tlie  varieties 
obtained  by  skillful  cultivation,  was  for  long  the 
pride  of  the  English  ilorists.  Both  revisited  the 
country  in  1807.  After  the  decease  of  the  father  in 
1811,  the  younger  Fraser  returned  hither  and  passed 
several  years  in  diligent  examination  of  the  Moun- 
tains, annually  sending  large  quantities  of  ornamental 


26  PREFACE. 

plants  and  seeds  to  Great  Britain.  He  is  well  and 
respectfully  remembered  by  tliose  who  made  his 
acquaintance,  especially  in  Burke  County. 

Mons.  Delile,  French  Consul  at  Wihnington,  in 
the  early  part  of  this  century,  sent  valuable  collec- 
tions of  plants  from  the  Cape  Fear  region  to  Paris, 
which  are  acknowledged  in  the  writings  of  several 
European  authors. 

Mr.  John  Lyon,  of  Great  Britain,  was  an  assidu- 
ous collector  of  our  plants,  and  contributed  very 
largely  of  our  most  interesting  species  to  the  English 
gardens.  He  probably  was  in  our#nountain  region 
previous  to  1802,  but  of  this  I  have  no  positive  in- 
formation. He,  however,  spent  several  3^ears  there 
at  a  subsequent  period,  and  died  at  Asheville  in  Sep- 
tember, 1814,  aged  forty-nine  years.  A  plain  marble 
stone  marks  his  last  resting-place  in  the  graveyard 
at  Asheville.  A  manuscript  Flora,  which  he  seems 
to  have  compiled,  for  convenient  use  as  a  manual, 
from  such  works  as  had  then  been  published  on 
American  plants,  is  now  in  my  possession. 

F.  A.  MiCHAUX,  son  of  the  Michaux  mentioned 
above,  and  who  accompanied  his  father  in  some  of 
his  visits  to  this  country,  traversed  a  portion  of  our 
mountain  district  in  1802.  The  result  of  his  explo- 
rations in  various  parts  of  the  country  is  contained 
in  his  large  work  on  the  "  Forest  Trees  of  North 
America,"  *  illustrated  with  beautiful  colored  plates. 

*  An  exquisitely  beautiful  edition  of  this  work  was  published  in 
1857,  by  Rice  and  Hart  of  Philadelphia,  in  five  volumes. 


PREFACE.  27 

I  am  much  indebted  to  this  valuable  work  for  infor- 
mation upon  the  economical  value  of  our  timber 
trees  given  in  the  following  description  of  our 
Woody  Plants. 

FiiEDERic  PuPiSH,  a  German,  author  of  a  valuable 
"  Flora  of  North  America,"  and  who  traveled  exten- 
sively in  the  Northern  and  Middle  States,  pretends 
to  have  extended  his  journeyings  to  North  Carolina, 
but  his  statement  is  deemed  rather  more  than  doubt- 
ful. 

Mr.  Kin,  a  German  nurseryman  living  at  Philadel- 
phia, visited  our  State  in  the  early  part  of  the  present 
century.  He  was  a  man  of  little  cultivation,  not 
properly  a  Botanist,  and  his  discoveries  were  pub- 
lished by  others. 

Thomas  Nuttall,  an  Englishman,  but  long  a 
resident  in  this  country,  a  most  accomplished  Bota- 
nist, who  has  contributed  as  much  as  any  one  man 
to  the  discovery  and  elucidation  of  the  floral  treas- 
ures of  North  America,  examined  portions  of  our 
mountain  and  lower  districts.  He  is  the  author  of 
"  Genera  of  North  American  Plants,"  and  of  many 
important  botanical  papers  in  the  scientific  journals 
of  tliis  country.     He  died  in  1859. 

H.  B.  Groom,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  PI.  Loomts,  made  a 
pretty  careful  exploration  of  the  vicinity  of  Newbern, 
and  their  observations  were  published,  in  1833,  in  a 
Catalogue  of  Plants  of  Newbern  and  vicinity.  A 
second  and  enlarged  Catalogue  was  printed  in  1837 
by  Mr.  Groom.     In  this  the   services  of   Mr.  Geo. 


28  PREFACE. 

WiLSOX  are  acknowledged  for  valuable  contributions 
to  the  knowledge  of  plants  around  Newbern. 

In  1833,  I  published,  in  the  "  Boston  Journal  of 
Natural  History,"  an  Enumeration  of  the  Plants 
growing  around  Wilmington,  the  fruit  of  diligent 
examination  made  during  a  residence  there  of  two 
years  and  a  half.  Occasional  visits  since  made  have 
increased  the  number  of  species  known  in  that  most 
interesting  locality,  the  Flowering  Plants  and  Ferns 
of  which  exceed  one  thousand. 

Dr.  James  F.  McRee,  of  Wilmington,  has  devoted 
much  time  to  a  study  of  the  Plants  of  that  neighbor- 
hood, and  the  completeness  of  the  above  Enumeration 
is  not  a  little  due  to  his  observation  and  assistance. 

The  late  Rev.  Dr.  L.  D.  von  Schweinitz,  of  Sa- 
lem, has  contributed  very  largely  to  a  knowledge  of 
the  Botany  of  this  State,  particularly  in  its  lower 
orders,  or  those  having  no  proper  flowers,  as  Mosses, 
Fungi,  &c.  In  these  departments  he  was  the  most 
expert  and  accomplished  Botanist  that  our  country 
has  produced.  In  1821  he  printed  at  Raleigh  a  small 
tract  of  twenty-seven  pages  upon  the  Hepatic  Mosses 
or  Livenvorts,  most  of  which  he  had  observed  near 
Salem.  In  1820  he  published  in  a  scientific  journal 
at  Leipsic  a  paper  upon  the  Fungi  of  North  Carolina, 
containing  descriptions  of  a  large  number  of  species 
previously  unknown,  some  of  which  are  illustrated 
by  very  good  figures.  A  similar  paper  upon  the 
Fungi  of  the  United  States,  printed  in  1831  in  the 
Journal  of  the  Philosophical  Society  of  Philadelphia, 


PREFACE.  29 

contains  a  large  amount  of  North  Carolina  species 
not  included  in  the  former  paper.  These  were  the 
first  treatises  of  the  kind  produced  in  this  country, 
and  the  list  of  species  given  in  the  following  report 
will  embrace  a  large  number  derived  from  them. 
This  learned  and  most  estimable^gentleman,  a  worthy 
descendant  of  the  celebrated  Count  Zinzendorf,  de- 
parted this  life,  February,  1834,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
four  years. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Mitchell,  during  one  period  of  his 
Professorship  at  our  University,  was  an  assiduous  cul- 
tivator of  botanical  science,  and  had  made  a  consid- 
erable collection  of  specimens,  which  he  generously 
shared  with  Dr.  Schweinitz  and  myself.  I  am  in- 
debted to  him  for  several  species  which  had  other- 
wise been  yet  unknown  to  our  North  Carolina  Flora. 
A  species  of  Carex,  named  after  him,  commemorates 
his  devotion  to  the  beautiful  science.  This  is  a  petty 
tribute  to  his  name ;  but  others  have  honored  it  in 
better  proportion  to  its  worth.  Mt.  Mitchell,  the 
loftiest  summit  of  the  Black  Mountain  range,  the 
witness  of  his  laudable  triumph  when  he  first  ascer- 
tained its  surpassing  height,  and  which  alone  saw  the 
sad  catastrophe  of  liis  death  in  the  darkness  of  night 
and  storm,  is  his  noble  monument  and  his  tomb. 

Dr.  Cyrus  L.  Hunter,  of  Lincoln  County,  has 
devoted  considerable  attention  to  the  study  of  plants 
in  his  vicinity,  and  I  am  indebted  to  him  for  infor- 
mation which  will  be  acknowledged  in  another  place. 
He  publislied  in  the  Charlotte  Journal  (for  1834  ?) 


30  PREFACE. 

a  list  of  such  plants  as  he  had  observed  in  his  neigh- 
borhood. 

Prof.  A.  Gray,  of  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
and  John  Carey,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  examined  the 
principal  mountains  of  Ashe  and  Yancey  in  1841, 
and  detected  several  species  of  plants  which  had 
escaped  the  notice  of  previous  investigators.  An  in- 
teresting account  of  this  expedition  may  be  found  in 
an  article  by  Prof.  Gray  in  the  American  Journal  of 
Science,  vol.  xlii,  to  which  I  am  indebted  for  much 
of  the  information  here  given  of  the  early  explorers 
of  our  alpine  district. 

The  same  distinguished  Botanist,  with  Mr.  Sulli- 
VANT  of  Ohio,  in  1843,  entered  our  mountains  from 
Virginia,  the  former  continuing  along  the  range  to 
Georgia ;  the  latter  leaving  the  State  by  the  French 
Broad  River.  The  results  of  this  tour  have  not  been 
formally  published.  Large  collections,  however, 
were  made  b}^  Prof.  Gray  for  the  Botanic  Garden  at 
Cambridge  ;  and  two  beautiful  volumes  of  specimens 
of  3Iosses  and  Liverivorts  were  prepared  by  Mr.  Sulli- 
vant,  which  were  gratuitously  distributed  among 
Naturalists  in  this  country  and  Europe.  In  a  subse- 
quent 3^ear  Mr.  Sullivant  made  a  botanical  recon- 
noissance  in  the  low  country  of  North  Carolina. 

Mr.  S.  B.  Buckley  has  also  made  valuable  contri- 
butions to  our  knowledge  of  the  Flora  of  Western 
Carolina.  In  1842  he  entered  the  State  by  the  Hi- 
wassee  River,  spending  the  summer  in  a  careful  ex- 
amination of  the  principal  summits  and  watercourses 


PEEFACE.  31 

as  far  as  Yancey  County.  Several  new  species  were 
detected  by  this  gentleman  and  j^ublislied  in  vol.  xlv 
of  Silliman's  Journal.  Since  the  above  date  he  has 
made  several  visits  to  the  same  region. 

Mr.  RuGEL,  a  German  collector  of  plants,  spent 
some  time  in  our  mountains  in  1842.  His  discov- 
eries were  published  by  Shuttleworth  and  others. 

Mr.  Dow,  a  young  Botanist,  traversed  the  whole 
length  of  our  mountain  range  in  1844,  but  I  have 
never  learned  if  his  observations  and  discoveries 
have  been  made  public. 

The  writer  of  this,  during  a  residence  near  the 
mountains  in  1835-36,  had  occasional  opportunities 
of  visiting  the  high  ranges  in  Burke  and  Yancey,  as 
also  the  counties  of  Lincoln,  Mecklenburg,  and  Cald- 
well. In  1839  he  spent  the  summer  in  traversing 
the  mountains  from  Ashe  to  Georgia.  A  visit  of  a 
few  weeks  was  again  made  to  Ashe  and  Yancey  in 
1845 ;  and  another  in  1854  to  Buncombe  and  Hen- 
derson. Besides  these,  a  residence  of  some  3-ears  in 
various  portions  of  the  middle  and  lower  sections  of 
the  State,  comprising  in  all  about  twenty  years,  has 
given  him  opportunities  of  becoming  acquainted  with 
the  vegetable  productions  of  the  State,  of  Avhich  he 
has  assiduousl}'-  availed  himself,  and  the  results  have 
been  published  in  various  journals  in  tliis  country 
and  England.  The  accompanying  list  of  species  con- 
tains all  that  is  known  of  the  plants  of  North  Caro- 
lina,— a  longer  list  than  has  yet  been  published  of 
any  State  in  the  Union. 


32  PREFACE. 

It  may  be  expected,  perhaps,  that  in  enumerating 
those  who  have  contributed  to  a  knowledge  of  the 
natural  productions  of  our  State,  I  should  not  omit 
a  notice  of  Lawson's  "  History  of  North  Carolina," 
the  first  printed  work  devoted  to  this  subject.  But, 
besides  that  this  book  is  now  nearly  inaccessible, 
there  being  but  a  single  copy  in  the  State,  Ave  cannot 
always  recognize  the  objects  described  in  it,  the  ap- 
plication of  Indian  names  being  lost,  and  that  of 
English  names  rather  variable  and  uncertain.  So 
far  as  I  have  been  able  to  authenticate  species  no- 
ticed by  Lawson  and  other  old  journalists  quoted  in 
Dr.  Hawks's  "  History  of  North  Carolina,"  I  have 
done  so  in  the  April  number  (1860)  of  the  North 
Carolina  University  Magazine.  The  information 
upon  the  natural  history  of  the  State  contained  in 
their  works  is  now  of  no  scientific  or  economical 
value,  and  their  errors  in  statement  are  not  few. 

In  the  following  arrangement  of  our  Woody  Plants, 
I  shall  not  be  governed  by  established  scientific 
rules,  but  shall  adapt  it,  as  well  as  I  can,  to  the  com- 
prehension of  those  who  know  nothing  at  all  of 
Botany  as  a  science.  I  hope,  in  this  manner,  so  to 
present  our  Trees,  Shrubs,  and  Climbers,  that  the 
most,  if  not  all  of  them,  shall  be  easily  recognized 
with  very  small  expenditure  of  patience  and  study. 
The  well-known  popular  names  applied  to  most  of 
the  species  and  genera  will  greatly  facilitate  the  suc- 
cess of  this  arrangement. 

The  above-mentioned  Divisions  will  be  subdivided 


PREFACE.  33 

according  to  the  nature  of  the  fruit  in  each,  some 
groups  having  coiieSy  like  the  Pines ;  some,  mits^  like 
Oaks  and  Hickories ;  others,  flesh?/  or  i^'^^lpu  fruity 
like  the  Apple  and  Plum.  A  tabular  view  of  this 
classification  will  be  given  at  the  end  of  this  Report. 

*^*  The  scientific  names  will  in  all  cases  corre- 
spond with  those  in  Dr.  Chapman's  "Flora  of  the 
Southern  United  States." 


THE 

Trees  of  North  Carolina, 


TREES  BEARING  CONES. 


PINES. — These  have  their  fruit  in  large  scaly 
cones^  popularly  called  Z>wrs,  and  have  evergreen  nee- 
dle-shaped leaves,  two  to  five  enclosed  in  a  sheath  at 
their  base. 

1.  Yellow  Pine.  (Pinus  mitis,  Michx.) — This, 
with  us,  is  called  Short-leaved  Pine  and  Spruce  Pine. 
The  first  is  objectionable,  because  we  have  at  least 
two  species  with  shorter  leaves ;  and  the  second,  be- 
cause another  is  more  appropriately  called  by  that 
name.  I  have,  therefore,  adopted  the  name  by  which 
it  is  known  in  the  Middle  States,  and  recommend  its 
use  here,  as  it  is  much  to  be  desired  that  there  be  a 
greater  uniformity  in  the  popular  designations  of  our 
forest  trees.  In  the  great  confusion  now  prevalent, 
it  is  often  quite  impossible  to  ascertain  what  is  meant 
by  the  names  of  our  most  common  trees  and  other 
plants.  This  is,  perhaps,  the  most  widely  diftused  of 
all  our  Pines,  it  being  common  from  New  England  to 
Florida,  mostly  in  light  clay  soils.  With  us  it  is 
found  from  the  coast  to  the  mountains,  but  more 
rarely  in  the  Lower  District,  and  it  enters  into  the 
composition  of  most  of  our  upland  forests.      It  is 


36  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

from  40  to  60  feet  high,  with  a  circumference  of  4  or 
5  and  even  6  feet.  The  limbs  on  the  upper  part  of 
the  tree  are  more  inclined  towards  the  trunk  than 
those  of  our  other  species,  so  as  to  give  somewhat  of 
a  pyramidal  form  to  the  top.  The  leaves  are  2  to  5 
inches  long,  generally  two,  but  sometimes  three,  in  a 
sheath.  The  cone  or  bur  is  the  smallest  of  all  our 
species,  rarely  attaining  a  length  of  2  inches,  the  tips 
of  the  scales  armed  with  slender  short  prickles.  The 
heart-w^ood  is  fine  grained  and  but  moderatel}^  resin- 
ous ;  but  the  sap-wood  soon  decays.  The  timber  is 
extensively  used  in  house  and  ship  building,  though 
not  deemed  so  valuable  as  that  of  the  Long-leaf, 
When  grown  in  very  rich  soils,  I  believe  its  timber  is 
coarser  than  when  raised  in  less  fertile  land. 

2.  Jersey  Pine.  (P.  inops,  Ait.) — This  tree  is 
generally  confounded  in  this  State  with  the  preced- 
ing, and  also  called  Sliort-leaved  Pine  and  Spruce 
Pine.  In  some  parts  of  the  country  it  is  known  also 
under  the  names  of  Cedar ^  River  and  Scrub  Pine. 
The  name  which  I  have  adopted,  after  Michaux, 
seems  to  have  originated  from  its  being  a  prevalent 
tree  in  New  Jersey,  where  it  has  its  northern  limit, 
and  from  whence  it  is  found,  on  barren  and  gravelly 
hills,  to  the  upper  part  of  Georgia.  In  such  situa- 
tions it  is  found  in  the  Middle  and  Upper  Districts 
of  this  State,  but  nowhere  very  abundant.  It  is  from 
20  to  40  feet  high,  and  12  to  15  inches  in  diameter, 
with  rather  distant,  spreading  and  drooping  branches. 
The  voune  branches   are  smoother  in  this  than  in 


I 


THE   TREES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  37 

other  species.  The  leaves  are  two  in  a  sheatli,  1  to 
2  inches  long,  about  half  the  length  of  those  of  the 
preceding  species,  while  the  cones  are  considerably 
larger  than  in  that,  being  2  to  2^  inches  long,  and 
armed  with  longer  and  stouter  sharp  prickles.  This 
tree  is  too  small,  often  crooked,  and  generally  Avith 
too  much  sap-wood,  to  be  of  any  value. 

3.  Prickly  Pine.  (P.  pungens,  Michx.) — The 
name  here  given  is  but  a  translation  of  the  scientific 
one,  as  I  could  never  learn  that  it  was  distinguished 
from  the  Yelloio  Pine  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  region 
where  it  grows.  In  some  books  it  is  called  Table 
Mou7itain  Pine^  because  it  was  originally  supposed  to 
be  pretty  much  confined  to  that  mountain  and  its 
immediate  neighborhood.  But  as  I  have  seen  it  from 
the  mountains  of  Virginia  and  Georgia,  and  from 
Pilot  Mountain  in  this  State,  far  east  of  the  Blue 
Ridge,  and  have  found  it  common  on  all  the  eastern 
spurs  of  the  Blue  Ridge  (never  west  of  it),  in  the 
northern  portion  of  our  mountain  range,  such  a  name 
is  too  local  to  be  at  all  appropriate.  This  species  is, 
however,  the  least  widely  diffused  of  any  North 
American  Pine.  The  tree  is  not  very  symmetrical, 
is  from  30  to  50  feet  high,  and  12  to  20  inches  in 
diameter.  The  leaves  are  in  pair^^  as  in  the  two  pre- 
ceding species,  but  much  thicker  and  stiller  than  in 
those,  and  about  2^  inches  long.  But  the  cones  give 
the  chief  peculiarity  and  interest  to  this  Pine.  They 
are  of  a  light  yellow  color,  very  compact,  3  inches 
long  and  2  inches  broad  at  the  base,  the  scales  armed 


38       THE  TEEES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

with  very  broad  strong  sharp  spines,  which  are  one- 
sixth  of  an  inch  long  and  bent  toward  the  top  of  the 
cone.  In  the  strength  and  sharpness  of  these  spines 
we  have  no  otlier  species  with  which  we  can  compare 
this.  I  have  never  learned  that  the  timber  of  this 
tree  is  of  any  special  value. 

4.  Pitch  Pine.  (P.  rigida,  Mill.) — Generally 
known  by  this  name,  but,  according  to  Michaux, 
sometimes  called  Black  Pine  in  Virginia.  I  think  it 
is,  in  North  Carolina,  confounded  with  the  Yellow 
Pine,  as  I  have  not  heard  any  distinctive  name  for  it, 
though  its  leaves  are  in  threes  (rarely  in  fours),  3  to 
5  inches  long,  and  more  rigid  than  in  the  latter.  The 
tree  is  30  to  50  feet  high,  with  a  rough  blackish  bark, 
the  branches  numerous  and  occupying  two-thirds  of 
the  trunk,  thus  rendering  the  wood  very  knotty. 
The  cones  are  2  or  3  inches  long,  of  a  light  brown 
color,  often  growing  in  clusters  of  3  to  5,  and  the 
scales  having  sharp  reflexed  prickles.  The  wood  is 
compact  and  heavy,  filled  with  resin,  though  when 
grown  in  low  grounds  it  is  much  lighter  and  has 
much  more  sap-wood.  It  is  a  good  deal  used  in  some 
parts  of  the  country,  but  being  inferior  to  the  Yellow 
Pine,  and  much  less  common  with  us,  it  is  not  deserv- 
ing of  much  consideration.  It  is  nowhere  common 
in  this  State,  and  I  have  not  observed  it  anywhere 
east  of  Lincoln  county,  though  it  is  probably  scat- 
tered sparingly  through  the  Middle  District.  It  is 
found  northward  as  far  as  New  England,  and  south- 
ward, I  think,  to  Georgia. 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.       39 

5.  Pond  Pine.  (  P.  serotina,  Miclix.) — This  has 
considerable  resemblance  to  the  Pitch  Pine,  but  is 
as  remarkable  for  its  scattered  branches  as  that  is  for 
its  crowded  ones.  They  are,  however,  in  no  danger 
of  being  confounded  in  this  State,  as  I  do  not  think 
they  are  found  in  the  same  sections.  But  it  is  very 
frequently  confounded  in  the  low  country  with  the 
Loblolly  Pine,  though  very  readily  distinguished  from 
that  by  its  cones.  It  is  common  in  the  small  swamps 
or  bays  of  the  Lower  District,  in  company  with 
Sweet  Bay,  Sour  Gum,  &c.,  and  occasionally  in  simi- 
lar situations  in  the  Middle.  It  sometimes  covers 
pretty  large  tracts  of  rich  swampy  and  peaty  lands, 
but  never,  I  think,  constitutes  any  extensive  forest. 
In  some  localities  it  is  called  Savanna  Pine.  The 
leaves  of  this  species  are  in  threes,  and  5  to  7  inches 
long.  The  cones  are  remarkable  for  their  short  form, 
compared  with  their  size,  being  about  2^  inches  long 
and  5  in  circumference  at  their  base,  armed  with  very 
short  fragile  prickles.  They  grow  in  clusters,  often 
surrounding  the  branch,  are  of  shining  light  brown 
color,  and  remain  closed  until  the  second  year.  They 
are  deemed  ornamental  enough  to  grace  the  mantel 
in  some  houses.  This  tree  is  generally  about  40  or 
50  feet  in  height,  but  in  favorable  soils  rises  as  high 
as  60  and  even  80  feet.  The  wood  is  of  better  and 
more  durable  qualities  than  that  of  the  Loblolly,  and 
is  occasionally  used  for  the  masts  of  small  vessels. 
It  is  not  known  to  exist  north  of  tliis  State. 

6.  Loblolly  or  Old  Field  Pine.    (P.  Tiuda.) — 


40  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

This  tree  has  its  northern  limit  in  or  near  the  District 
of  Columbia,  gradually  becoming  more  abundant  to 
the  southward,  until,  in  this  State,  it  is  the  most 
common  Pine,  next  to  the  Long-leaf^  in  the  Lower 
District.  It  is  there  found  wherever  the  soil  is  dry 
and  sandy,  as  well  as  in  some  of  the  smaller  swamps ; 
but  is  replaced  by  the  Yellow  Pine  on  clayey  and 
gravelly  soils.  In  exhausted  fields  out  of  cultivation 
it  almost  invariably  springs  up,  which  gives  the  origin 
of  one,  and  in  this  State  the  most  common,  of  its 
names.  Its  leaves  are  from  6  to  10  inches  long, 
clustered  by  threes  (very  rarely  2  or  4),  in  a  sheath. 
The  cones  are  3  to  5  inches  long,  the  scales  armed 
with  rather  strong  sharp  prickles.  The  trunk  rises 
to  the  height  of  50  and  70  feet,  with  a  diameter  of  2 
and  3  feet,  and  has  a  spreading  top.  The  wood  is 
sappy  and  coarse-grained,  liable  to  warp  and  shrink, 
and  soon  decaj^s  on  exposure.  It  is  among  the  least 
valuable  of  our  Pines,  but  is  sometimes  applied  to 
inferior  uses.  It  affords  a  good  deal  of  Turpentine, 
which  is  less  fluid  than  that  from  the  Long-leaf.  This 
tree  extends  somewhat  into  the  Middle  District. 

I  am  indebted  for  the  knowledge  of  an  important 
variety  of  this  tree,  known  as  the  Swamp  or  Slash 
Pine^  and  about  Wilmington  as  Rosemary  Pine.,  to 
some  articles  in  Russell's  Magazine,  written  by  Mr. 
Edmund  Ruflin,  of  Virginia,  who  has  made  a  careful 
examination  of  the  characters  and  habits  of  our 
southern  Pines.  He  says :  ''  This  [Slash  Pine]  tree 
grows  only  on  low  and  moist  land,  and  is  the  better 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.       41 

for  timber,  and  grows  larger  in  proportion  to  the 
greater  richness  of  the  hind.  It  is  the  principal  and 
largest  timber  Pine  in  the  original  forests  of  all  the 
low,  flat  and  firm  but  moist  lands  bordering  on  Albe- 
marle Sound,  and  also  farther  South  ;  and  I  have 
seen  it  growing  as  well,  but  much  more  sparsely,  on 
the  rich  swampy  borders  of  the  Roanoke  and  in  the 
best  Gum  lands  bordering  on  the  Dismal  Swamp, 
and  some  on  the  low  bottom  lands  of  Tar  River. 
Among  the  other  gigantic  forest  trees  on  the  rich 
and  wet  Roanoke  Swamps  (on  the  land  of  Henry 
Burgwyn,  Esq.),  mostly  of  Oak,  Gum,  Poplar,  &c., 
the  few  of  these  Pines  which  yet  remain,  tower  far 
above  all  others  (20  feet  or  more)  so  as  to  be  seen 
and  distinguished  at  some  miles'  distance.  I  have 
visited  several  standing  trees  and  the  stumps  of 
others  which  had  been  cut  down,  which  measured 
nearly  or  quite  five  feet  in  diameter,  and  were  sup- 
posed to  have  been  from  150  to  170  feet  in  height. 
But  the  sizes  and  heights  of  the  trees  may  best  be 
inferred  from  the  list  below  of  hewn  (or  squared) 
stocks,  which  was  furnished  to  me  from  ]\Ir.  Herbert's* 
timber  accounts.  These  stocks  were  cut  in  Bertie 
count}^,  made  the  whole  of  one  raft  which  was  tlien 
(May,  1856,)  on  its  passage  through  the  Dismal 
Swamp  Canal  to  New  York.  The  stocks  were  thence 
to  be  shipped  to  Amsterdam  for  naval  construction, 
under  a  contract  with  the  Dutch  government. 

*  Of  Vir-xinia;  a  large  contractor  for  the  supply  of  timl)er  to  tlie 
Navy  Yards. 


42 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


Length. 

Inches  Square. 

No.  of  Cubic  Feet. 

1 

47 

25 

204 

2 

66 

19 

165 

3 

86 

30 

537 

4 

79 

31 

527 

5 

88 

23 

337 

6 

65 

20 

181 

7 

74 

26 

347 

8 

80 

26 

376 

9 

68 

24 

272 

10 

58 

22 

195 

11 

86 

30 

537 

12 

58 

30 

363 

13 

74 

26 

347 

14 

74 

26 

347 

15 

70 

28 

381 

16 

70 

27 

368 

"  But  even  the  longest  of  these  stocks  do  not  ap- 
proach the  magnitude  of  one  which  was  cut  at  a  pre- 
vious time  in  Bertie  and  sold  in  New  York  by  Mr. 
Herbert.  This  Avas  80  feet  in  length  and  36  inches 
square  at  the  lower  end.  He  sold  it  to  a  dealer  for 
$500,  and  the  buyer  resold  it  for  |600.  This  stock 
did  not  retain  its  stated  diameter  (at  the  butt)  to 
its  upper  extremity,  but  there  was  from  28  to  30 
inches  square.  All  of  these  stocks  were  nearly  all  of 
heart-wood.  Of  course  this  condition  permits  but 
little  sap-wood,  and  that  only  in  the  angles  of  the 
squared  stocks.  Thence,  also,  it  follows  that  the 
proportion  of  heart-wood  in  these  trees  must  be  very 


THE   TREES    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA.  43 

large.  The  timber  must  be  resinous,  or  it  would  not 
be  good ;  and  it  must  be  durable,  or  it  would  not 
serve  for  the  masts  and  otlier  great  spars  of  sliips  of 
war,  exposed  to  alternations  of  wetting  and  drying, 
and  for  which  the  best  materials  only  are  permitted 
to  be  used.  The  grain  of  this  heart-wood  is  not  gen- 
erally very  coarse,  but  more  so  than  the  Long-leaf^ 
and  still  more  than  the  Short-leaf  [or]  Yelloiv  Pine.''' 
7.  Long-leaf  Pine.  (P.  australis,  Michx.) — The 
invaluable  tree  by  which  tlie  country,  and  this  State 
especially,  have  so  largely  profited,  is  generally 
known  among  us  by  the  name  here  given,  though  it 
sometimes  is  called  Yellotv  Pine.  In  the  navy  and 
dock  yards  of  the  country  it  bears  the  latter  name, 
though  this  designation  there  includes  also  the  Swamp 
or  Rosemary  Pine^  as  well  as  the  species  lirst  de- 
scribed in  this  list.  It  begins  to  appear  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  Virginia,  and  from  thence  to  Florida 
it  is  eminently  the  tree  of  the  lower  districts  of  the 
Southern  States,  occupying  nearly  all  tlie  dry  sandy 
soil  for  many  hundred  miles.  It  is  from  60  to  70 
feet  liigh,  in  favorable  situations  still  higher,  and  15 
to  20  inches  in  diameter.  The  leaves  are  10  to  15 
in  dies  long,  on  young  stocks  sometimes  much  longer, 
and  clustered  on  the  ends  of  the  branches  like  a 
broom.  The  cones  are  6  to  8  inches  long.  The  wood 
contains  very  little  sap.  The  resinous  matter  is  dis- 
tributed ver}^  uniforml}'  through  it,  and  hence  the 
wood  is  more  durable,  stronger,  and  more  compact ; 
which  qualities,  in  addition  to  its  being  of  fine  grain, 


44  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

give  it  the  preference  over  all  our  Pines.  The  qual- 
ity of  the  wood,  however,  depends  upon  the  kind  of 
soil  in  which  it  is  grown,  as  in  a  richer  mould  it  is 
less  resinous.  This  inferior  kind  is,  in  some  places, 
distinguished  as  YeUoiv  Pine, — another  case  in  point, 
illustrating  the  vague  and  indiscriminate  apjDlication 
of  the  popular  names  of  our  forest  trees.  In  some 
soils  the  wood  is  of  a  reddish  hue ;  and  this,  in  the 
Northern  dock-yards,  is  denominated  Red  Pine,  and 
considered  better  than  the  others.  I  am  informed 
that  trees  Avliich  have  a  small  top  indicate  a  stock 
with  the  best  heart-wood. 

The  great  value  of  this  tree  in  both  civil  and  naval 
architecture  is  too  well  known  to  justify  a  full  enu- 
meration of  its  uses,  and  statistics  of  trade  in  it  be- 
long rather  to  a  gazetteer  than  to  an  essay  like  this. 
But  it  is  not  the  wood  only  that  gives  value  to  this 
tree.  The  resinous  matter,  in  various  forms,  is 
shipped  from  our  ports  in  large  quantities  to  all  parts 
of  the  United  States  and  to  foreign  countries.  Turpen- 
tine is  the  sap  in  its  natural  state  as  it  flows  from  the 
tree.  When  it  hardens  upon  the  trunk,  and  is  gotten 
off  by  proper  implements,  it  is  called  scrapings,  of 
very  inferior  value  to  the  virgin  article.  Tar  is  made 
by  burning  the  dead  limbs  and  wood  in  kilns.  Pitch 
is  tar  reduced  about  one  half  by  evaporation.  Spirits 
of  Turpentine  is  obtained  by  distillation  from  turpen- 
tine, including  scrapings.  Rosin  is  the  residuum  left 
by  distillation.  The  greater  part  of  these  articles  in 
the  markets  is  derived,  I  believe,  from  this  State. 


THE   TllEES    OF    XOKTil   CAROLINA.  45 

Large  tracts  of  tliis  Pine  are  sometimes  suddenly 
destroj'ed,  as  b}^  a  bliglit,  to  the  irreparable  injury  of 
the  owners,  as  the  forests  cannot  be  reproduced  in 
a  lifetime.  From  the  great  value  of  the  tree  its  de- 
struction has  attracted  more  especial  notice  ;  but  our 
Yellozv  Pine  (P.  mitis)  is  subject  to  the  same  casual- 
ty. In  Europe  the  same  kind  of  fatality  happens  to 
the  Firs.  The  mischief  is  caused  by  swarms  of  a 
small  insect  penetrating  through  the  bark  into  va- 
rious portions  of  the  stock,  and  against  whicli  there 
is  no  remedy  yet  discovered.  Other  species  of  insect 
sometimes  attack  the  Oaks,  and  effect  a  simiUir  de- 
struction. 

8.  White  Pine.  (P.  Strobus,  Linn.)— This  beau- 
tiful tree,  of  such  immense  value  to  Canada  and  New 
England,  extends  along  the  Alleghanies  to  our  own 
mountains,  where  it  is  found  in  considerable  quanti- 
ties, forming  peculiar  and  handsome  forests  in  the 
rich  elevated  valleys,  especially  of  Ashe  and  Yancey. 
It  is  found  as  far  south  as  Georgia.  Though  at  the 
North  this  tree  is  as  important,  and  its  timber  as  ex- 
tensively used,  as  our  own  Lovij-lcavcd  Pine,  yet 
from  its  inaccessibility  in  our  mountains  it  lias  no 
marketable  value  with  us,  and  does  not  seem  to  be 
much  used  in  the  ree^ion  where  it  erows. 

There  are  peculiarities  about  this  tree  which  dis- 
tinguish it  at  first  sight,  and  at  any  distance,  from 
all  our  Pines,  in  the  pale  green  color  of  its  foliage, 
the  smooth,  light  bark  of  the  trunk,  and  the  circular 
disposition  of  the  limbs,  which  gradually  diminish  in 


46  THE   TKEES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

length  toward  the  summit,  so  as  to  give  this  the  sym- 
metry of  a  Fir  more  than  of  a  Pine.  The  leaves  are 
also  jive  in  a  sheath^  which  is  the  case  with'no  other 
of  our  Pines.  In  favorable  situations  at  the  North, 
this  tree  has  been  known  to  reach  a  height  of  180 
feet,  with  a  diameter  of  7  feet.  In  our  mountains  it 
is  found  from  60  to  70  feet  high,  with  a  proportional 
diameter.  The  wood  is  light,  soft,  free  from  knots, 
very  easily  worked,  and  durable,  though  not  very 
strong,  and  is  applied  to  a  far  greater  variety  of  eco- 
nomical uses  than  that  of  any  other  Pine. 

FIRS  AND  SPRUCES.— These  are  distinguished 
from  the  Pines  by  their  leaves  growing  singly  upon 
the  branches,  (not  included  by  twos,  threes,  &c.,  in 
a  common  sheath,)  and  by  their  cones,  which  are 
composed  of  thin  scales  without  prickles,  somewhat 
like  Hops.  They  are  all  possessed  of  singular  beauty, 
and  are  indispensable  to  the  perfection  of  artificial 
groves  and  parks.  It  is  only  in  cool  and  moist  situ- 
ations, however,  that  they  can  be  fully  develoj)ed ; 
though  they  thrive  and  are  very  ornamental  in  pri- 
vate grounds  through  the  Middle  District  of  the 
State.  They  are  impatient  of  the  heat  in  the  Lower 
District,  and  unless  well  shaded  there,  are  apt  to  re- 
main dwarfed,  or  to  die  out. 

1.  Balsam  Fir.  (Abies  Fraseri,  Pursh.)  —  This 
is  the  handsomest  of  our  Firs,  and  is  very  similar  to 
the  Silver  Fir  of  Europe,  though  every  way  smaller ; 
the  latter  sometimes  attaining  the  height  of  150  feet. 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.       47 

wliile  ours  seldom  readies  40,  witli  a  diameter  of  12 
to  15  inches.  It  is  an  inliabitant  of  the  higher  moun- 
tains from  Pennsylvania  southward  as  far  as  this 
State.  Farther  north  it  is  replaced  by  a  larger  but 
very  similar  species  known  as  the  Canada  Balsam 
(A.  balsamea).  It  is  not  uncommon  on  our  highest 
summits,  but  I  think  is  not  found  upon  any  which 
do  not  exceed  4,000  feet  above  the  sea.  Some  of 
these  summits  appear  to  be  occupied  almost  exclu- 
sively with  forests  of  this  tree,  and  the  dark  color  of 
these  and  of  masses  of  the  next  species  has  probably 
given  its  name  to  the  Black  Mountain.  Several 
knobs  and  ranges  south  of  the  French  Broad  River 
are  called  Balsam  Mountain  from  the  prevalence'  of 
this  tree  upon  them.  When  not  too  much  crowded, 
this  has  a  close  pyramidal  top.  The  leaves  are  of  a 
bright  green  above,  and  silvery  white  beneath.  When 
the  branches  are  loaded  with  cones,  (which  in  this 
species  only  stand  erect,)  the  tree  is  very  beautiful. 
The  cones  are  from  1  to  2  inches  Ion  or.  The  timber 
is  of  little  value,  though  sometimes  sawed  or  hewed 
out  for  mountain  cabins ;  yet  if  valuable,  it  could 
not,  from  its  location,  be  available.  The  turpentine 
or  balsam  is  a  clear  thin  liquid,  obtained  from  small 
blisters  on  the  bark  of  the  trunk  by  means  of  sliarp 
horn  spoons  or  scoops  inserted  into  their  lower  side. 
It  is  of  an  acrid  taste,  and  is  much  used  by  the  in- 
habitants on  cuts  and  sores ;  but  the  application  is 
painful,  and  as  likely  to  promote  inllammation  as  to 
allay  it. 


48       THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

2.  Black  Spruce.  (A.  nigra,  Poir.) — Common  in 
our  mountains,  especially  on  the  Black,  but  at  a 
lower  elevation  than  the  preceding  species.  It  ex- 
tends from  this  State  along  the  AUeghanies  to  New 
England  and  Canada.  In  our  mountains  it  is  some- 
times very  improperly  called  Juniper^  and  it  is,  I  be- 
lieve, what  is  most  commonly  and  absurdly  called  He 
Balsam.  With  us  it  is  a  small  tree  of  darker  green 
foliage  than  the  preceding,  but  of  similar  form.  In 
higher  latitudes  it  has  a  height  of  70  or  80  feet,  and 
is  there  an  elegant  tree.  The  wood  has  strength, 
lightness  and  elasticity,  and  is  much  used  both  in 
the  Northern  States  and  abroad,  for  the  yards  and 
topmasts  of  vessels.  The  drink  so  popular  at  the 
North,  and  known  as  Spruce  Beer.,  gets  its  name  from 
the  use  of  the  small  branches,  chiefly  of  this  species, 
which  are  steeped  in  the  brew. 

3.  White  Spruce.  (A.  alba,  Michx.)— This  has 
about  the  same  range  in  the  United  States  as  the 
Black  Spruce^  but  does  not  extend  quite  so  far  to  the 
northward.  It  is  rather  rare  in  our  mountainSj  but 
is  occasionally  met  with  in  similar  situations  with 
the  other,  and  with  which  it  is  generally  confounded 
by  the  inhabitants.  In  one  instance  I  heard  it  called 
Lavender^  a  name  belonging  to  a  garden  herb.  It  is 
very  distinct  from  the  preceding,  and  its  whole  aspect 
is  lighter ;  the  summit  of  a  similar  pyramidal  form, 
but  less  compact,  is  of  less  size,  with  slender  and 
more  drooping  branchlets,  the  pale  green  leaves  of 
more  delicate  form,  and  the  cones  narrower.     The 


THE   TIIEES    OF    NORTH   CAIIOLINA.  49 

wood  is  employed  for  the  same  purposes  as  that  of 
the  Black  Spruce. 

4.  Hemlock  Spruce.  (A.  Canadensis,  IMiclix.) 
— Universally  known  in  our  mountains  as  Spruce 
Phu\  though  the  name  here  preferred  is  not  unknown. 
The  hitter  is  a  very  common  appellation  of  the  Yel- 
low Fine  in  this  State.  The  Hemlock  is  found  as  far 
north  as  Hudson's  Bay;  whether  south  of  North 
Carolina  I  have  not  learned.  It  is  almost  entirely 
confined,  in  the  mountains,  to  the  borders  of  torrents 
and  cold  swamps,  but  extends  down  to  their  very  base. 
This  is  a  larger  tree  than  the  preceding  Spruces,  but 
does  not  attain  here,  as  in  higher  latitudes,  the  stature 
of  70  or  80  feet,  and  a  diameter  of  2  or  3  feet.  In 
its  light  spreading  spray  and  delicate  foliage  it  is  a 
more  graceful  tree  than  the  others.  The  leaves  are 
light  green  above  and  silvery  beneath.  They  spread 
two  ways  upon  the  branches,  while  in  all  the  other 
Spruces  they  spread  from  every  part  of  them.  The 
cones  are  i  to  1  inch  long,  and  gracefully  depend  from 
the  ends  of  the  branchlets.  The  timber  is  used  to 
some  extent  at  the  North,  but  is  of  inferior  imj)or- 
tance.  The  bark,  however,  is  extensively  and  almost 
exclusively  used  for  tanning  in  some  parts  of  New 
England.  Though  inferior  to  Oak  bark,  it  is  said 
that  the  two  united  are  preferable  to  either  alone. 

White  Cedar.  (Cupressus  thyoides,  Linn.) — In 
North  Carolina,  and  some  other  portions  of  the 
South,  this  seems  to  be  known  only  under  the  name 
of  Juniper.     But  as  it  is  not  Juniper,  I  do  not  hesi- 


50       THE  TEEES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

tate  to  reject  the  name.  The  one  above  given  is  in 
common  use  in  the  Middle  and  Northern  States 
wherever  the  tree  is  found.  The  true  Juniper  (^Ju- 
niperus  communis)  of  Europe  and  the  Northern 
States  is  related  to  our  Cedm\  and  its  fruit  is  an  aro- 
matic berry ;  while  that  of  the  present  species  is  a 
small,  dry,  woody  cone,  composed  of  scales  which 
spread  open  in  maturity  after  the  manner  of  a  Pine 
or  Cypress  bur.  This  tree  is  found  from  Florida  to 
New  England.  In  our  State  it  is  confined  to  swamps 
in  the  Lower  District,  where,  in  some  places,  it  is  very 
abundant.  It  is  70  or  80  feet  high,  with  a  diameter 
of  2  or  3  feet.  The  various  uses  to  which  its  wood 
is  applied  make  it  one  of  the  most  valuable  trees  in 
the  country.  It  is  fine  grained,  soft,  light  and  easily 
worked,  and  after  seasoning  acquires  a  light  rosy  tint. 
It  has  a  strong  aromatic  odor,  and  the  flavor  given 
to  water  kept  in  buckets  or  piggins  of  this  material 
is  generally  esteemed.  From  the  little  effect  pro- 
duced upon  it  by  moisture  or  dryness,  as  well  as  for 
its  lightness  and  freedom  from  splitting,  the  shingles 
made  of  it  are,  in .  some  places,  preferred  over  all 
others,  and  last  from  30  to  35  years.  Where  it 
abounds,  it  is  used  in  the  frames  of  buildings,  it  be- 
ing durable  and  mostly  free  from  worms.  In  cooper- 
work  it  is  extensively  used,  and  has  been  found  very 
serviceable  for  vessels  in  which  to  preserve  oils. 
Charcoal  for  gunpowder  is  made  from  the  young 
stocks — lampblack,  lighter  and  more  deeply  colored 
than  that  from  Pine,  is  made  from  the  seasoned  wood 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.       51 

— rails  for  fencintT^,  made  of  tlie  young  stocks  deprived 
of  their  outer  bark,  will  last  from  50  to  GO  years. 

N.  B.  The  Red  Cedm\  according  to  its  natural 
affinit}',  should  be  placed  in  this  Group ;  but  as  its 
fruit  is  what  is  popularly  called  a  herry^  the  present 
mode  of  arrangement  reipiires  its  transfer  to  the 
Group  having  that  kind  of  fruit.  The  Arbor  Vitce, 
also  belonging  here,  may  be  found  among  the  Shrubs. 

Cypress.  (Taxodium  distichum.  Rich.) — This 
tree,  so  well  known  under  this  name  only,  needs  no 
specific  description,  and  I  will  only  remark  that  it  is 
the  only  one  in  this  group  of  trees  that  has  not  ever- 
green leaves.  Its  range  is  along  the  lower  region  of 
the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  States,  from  Delaware  to  Texas. 
In  this  State  it  has  about  the  same  range  as  the  White 
Cedar  and  Long-leaf  Pine^  but  is  alwaj^s  confined  to 
swamps.  It  is  remarkable  for  its  large  dimensions  as 
well  as  for  its  various  uses.  Its  lieight  with  us  is 
from  GO  to  100  feet,  with  a  circumference  above  the 
swollen  base  of  20  to  36  feet,  though  in  the  original 
forests  of  the  country  it  has  still  lai-ger  dimensions. 
The  wood  has  much  strength  and  elasticity,  is  fine 
grained,  lighter  and  less  resinous  than  that  of  the 
Pines.  Heat  and  moisture  affect  it  much  less  than 
most  of  our  timbers,  and  it  is  therefore  particularly 
valuable  in  those  parts  of  the  State  where  both  these 
agents  have  peculiar  force.  The  timber  has  been 
much  used  in  some  places  for  the  frame  and  wood- 
work of  liouses,  and  is  said  to  ])e  twice  as  durable  as 
White  Oak  or  Pine.     The  shinirles  made  of  it  are  of 


52       THE  TKEES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

the  most  valuable  kind,  and  will  last  40  years.  The 
business  of  making  these  is  a  very  profitable  branch 
of  industry  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  State.  For 
fencing  and  for  water-pipes  the  wood  is  of  high  value. 

There  are  three  varieties  of  this  tree  recognized 
by  those  who  deal  in  its  timber — the  Red^  Black  and 
White  Cypress,  characterized  by  the  different  color  of 
their  heart-wood.  The  Red  Gyijre%%'  has  its  heart  of 
a  reddish  tint,  is  preferable  to  the  others  for  timber, 
and  cannot  be  split.  This  variety  is  easily  recognized 
by  its  straight  trunk  (not  always  having  a  swollen 
base),  generally  with  a  small  top,  and  by  the  wounded 
bark  having  a  reddish  tinge.  The  Black  and  JVhite 
Cypress  cannot,  so  far  as  I  know,  be  discriminated 
without  the  aid  of  the  axe.  The  Black  has  its  wood 
duskier  and  heavier  than  the  Wfiite^  which  is  less 
resinous.  According  to  Michaux,  the  latter  grows 
in  land  constantly  inundated,  and  the  former  in  drier 
situations ;  but  I  am  assured  by  others,  that  all  three 
varieties  may  be  found  in  precisely  similar  situations. 

The  foliage  of  this  tree  usually  spreads  in  only  two 
directions  from  the  branchlets,  like  that  of  the  Hem- 
lock Spruce;  but  there  is  a  variety,  not  uncommon  in 
some  localities,  especially  upon  the  wet  savannas  near 
Wilmington,  on  which  the  leaves  are  very  small, 
growing  upon  four  sides  of  the  branchlets  and  pressed 
down  upon  them,  much  like  those  of  the  Cedar. 

Cypress  Knees,  growing  from  the  roots  of  the  tree 
to  a  height  corresponding  with  the  usual  'depth  of 
the  water,  and  constituting  a  singular  peculiarity  in 


THE   TllEES    OF    NOllTir  CAHOLIXA.  63 

Cypress  swainps,  are,  I  suppose,  tlie  result  of  liyper- 
tropliy.  Wluitever  be  the  economy  or  final  purpose 
of  these  excrescences,  there  are  probably  few  of  the 
present  day  who  will  endorse  the  theory  of  St.  Pierre, 
that  they  were  designed  to  j)rotect  the  trunk  against 
damage  from  icebergs ! 

The  Cypress  has  not  ordinarily  a  very  attractive 
form  in  our  swamps;  but  when  standing  alone  in  fa- 
vorable situations,  it  has  a  regular  pyramidal  top  and 
is  of  imposing  beauty.  In  the  Bartram  Garden,  near 
Philadelphia,  I  have  seen  a  stock  (over  100  years  old) 
of  such  exquisite  symmetry,  that  I  could  not  be  per- 
suaded it  was  a  Cypress,  until  I  had  satisfied  myself 
by  a  close  inspection. 


NUT  TREES. 

Tlie  next  GROur  to  be  noticed  is  the  most  impor- 
tant, whether  considered  in  reference  to  its  numbers 
or  its  economical  value,  in  the  whole  circle  of  Forest 
Trees.  There  will  be  included  in  it  all  those  which 
bear  a  fruit  popularly  called  Nuts,  without  reference 
to  the  more  restricted  scientific  meaning  of  the  word. 
This  Group  will  thus  include  the  Oak,  Beech,  Chest- 
nut, Hickory,  Walnut,  and  Buckeye. 

OAKS. — This  genus  of  trees  contains  more  species 
than  any  other  in  our  country ;  and  of  these  there  is 
a  larger  number  in  Nortli  Carolina   than   in   all  the 


54       THE  TREES  OF  NOKTH  CAROLINA. 

States  north  of  us,  and  only  one  less  than  in  all  the 
Southern  States  east  of  the  Mississippi.  Some  of  the 
species,  however,  hardly  rise  to  the  dignity  of  trees, 
though  I  shall  bring  them  all  together  in  this  place, 
where  they  will  most  naturally  be  looked  for. 

For  the  better  understanding  of  the  species,  they 
are  divided  into  two  Sections.  The  first  is  that  of 
the  White  Oaks  —  characterized  by  the  acorns  being 
annual,,  the  foliage  of  a  pale  or  grayish  aspect,  and 
without  bristles  at  the  ends  of  the  leaf  divisions  ;  the 
bark  of  an  ashy  hue,  and  the  wood  generally  lighter 
colored  and  of  more  compact  texture  than  in  the 
other  Section.  The  second  Section  has  acorns  hien- 
nially^  and  the  leaves  (except  in  the  Live  Oak)  are 
pointed  with  a  bristle  at  the  end  of  each  division. 

Section  I.  is  again  arranged  in  two  Divisions : — the 
jirst  having  for  its  type  the  common  White  Oak,, 
characterized  by  the  leaves  being  deeply  cut  from 
the  margin  toward  the  central  nerve.  The  second 
has  for  its  type  the  Sivamp  White  Oak^  in  which  Di- 
vision the  leaves  are  generally  larger  than  in  the 
first,  and  only  scalloped  or  round-toothed  on  the 
edge.  The  species  of  the  White  Oak  Section  are, 
then,  as  follows : 

Division  1st.  Division  2d. 

White  Oak,  (Querciis  alba.)  Swamp  White  Oak,  (Q.  Prinus.) 

Post  Oak,  (Q.  obtusiloba.)  Chestnut  Oak,  (Q.  Castauea.) 

Over-cup  Oak,  (Q.  Ijrata.)  Chinquapin  Oak,  (Q.  prinoides.) 

1.  White  Oak.  (Quercus  alba,  Linn.) — This  is 
found  from  Canada  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  ap- 


THE   TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  55 

pears  to  be  universally  known  by  the  name  here 
given, — one  of  the  few  instances  among  the  Oaks,  in 
which  there  is  not  more  or  less  confusion  of  popular 
names,  so  that  there  is  no  need  of  offering  a  specific 
description  of  it.  It  is  found  in  this  State  from  the 
coast  to  the  mountains,  but  is  most  abundant  in  the 
Middle  District.  In  the  Lower  it  avoids  the  barrens, 
and  is  found  chiefly  on  or  near  the  borders  of  swamps. 
It  is  only  in  the  most  favorable  situations  that  this 
tree  rises  to  the  height  of  70  or  80  feet,  with  a  diam- 
eter of  four  or  five.  It  is  then,  with  its  light  foliage, 
compact  and  even  head,  and  straight  shaft,  one  of 
the  most  imposing  trees  in  our  forests.  It  is,  how- 
ever, seldom  met  with  in  our  State  having  a  diam- 
eter of  more  than  2  feet,  though  I  have  seen  stocks 
here  with  a  diameter  of  3  feet.  This  is  probaldy  of 
more  general  use,  and  more  extensively  serviceable, 
than  any  other  of  our  Oaks,  it  being  valuable  for 
house  frames,  for  mills  and  dams,  vehicles,  agricultu- 
ral implements,  coopers'  ware,  ship-building,  and  for 
all  purposes  where  strength  and  durability  are  re- 
quired. The  bark  has  been  deemed  bj-  some  tanners 
as  the  best  kind  for  preparing  leather  for  saddles  and 
similar  objects.  It  is  sometimes  used  medicinally  as 
a  tonic  and  astringent. 

The  variety  of  this  species  known  as  tlie  Scaly 
Bark  Whlfe  Oak  is  distinguished  by  the  thin  plates 
of  bark  that  scale  off  from  the  trunk.  I  have  not 
learned  if  its  timber  differs  essentially  from  that  of 
the  other. 


56  THE  TKEES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

2.  Post  Oak.  (Q.  obtusiloba,  Miclix.)  —  Tlie 
northern  limit  of  this  is  in  New  Jersey,  but  it  is  not 
abundant  and  flourishing  north  of  Maryland.  From 
thence  southward  it  enters  largely  into  the  composi- 
tion of  the  forests  which  cover  the  dry  and  poorer 
soils  of  the  Middle  Districts  of  the  South.  In  the 
Lower  Districts  it  is  less  common,  being  mostly  con- 
fined to  the  region  of  swamps  and  lands  that  have 
gone  out  of  cultivation.  With  us  it  does  not  appear 
to  be  know^n  under  any  other  name  than  the  one 
given  above,  and  by  which  it  is  most  generally  desig- 
nated ;  but  it  is  elsewhere  sometimes  called  l7'07i  Oak 
and  Box  White  Oak.  The  leaves  are  more  coarsely 
cut  than  those  of  the  White  Oak^  their  divisions  often 
enlarged  at  their  outer  ends,  rather  rough  on  the 
upper  side,  and  with  a  gray  down  underneath.  The 
acorns  being  very  sweet  and  much  eaten  by  wild 
turkeys,  it  is  in  some  localities  called  Turkey  Oak. 
This  tree  is  rarely  found  as  high  as  50  feet,  and  with 
a  diameter  of  18  inches,  but  I  have  seen  it  with  a 
diameter  of  26  inches.  Hence  it  cannot  be  employed 
for  all  the  purposes  for  which  the  Wliite  Oak  is  used, 
although  in  fineness  of  grain,  strength  and  elasticity, 
it  is  superior  to  it.  It  is  serviceable  for  fence-posts, 
(hence  its  name,)  for  the  work  of  wheelwrights  and 
coopers,  and  is  used  advantageously  for  the  knees  in 
ship-building.  For  the  staves  of  liquor-casks,  this 
and  the  White  Oak  supply  material  far  superior  to 
any  other  of  our  Oaks. 

3.  Over-cup  Oak.    (Q.  lyrata,  Walt.)  —  This  is 


THE   TREES    OF    NORTH    CAliOLTXA.  57 

unknown  north  of  tliis  State,  and  does  not  seem  to 
be  common  anywliere.  In  this  State  I  know  of  its 
existence  only  in  the  rich  swampy  lands  of  the  Neuse 
and  Cape  Fear  and  their  tributaries  as  far  up  the 
country  as  Chatham  and  Orange.  The  foliage  has 
more  resemblance  to  that  of  the  Post  Oak  than  of 
any  other,  for  which  reason  it  is,  farther  south,  called 
/Swamp  Post  Oak.  It  is  also  sometimes  called  Water 
White  Oak.  The  acorn  is  almost  wholly  enclosed  in 
its  cup,  (whence  its  name,)  by  which  character  this 
tree  nu\y  easily  be  distinguished  from  all  others.  It 
sometimes  attains  the  lieight  of  80  feet  and  a  diam- 
eter of  2  and  3  feet,  and  is  then  a  majestic  tree.  The 
wood  is  inferior  to  that  of  the  two  preceding  species, 
yet  is  sufiiciently  compact  to  be  serviceable,  if  it  was 
more  accessible  and  more  extensively  diffused. 

4.  Swamp  Chestnut  Oak.  (Q.  Prinus,  Linn.) — 
Not  known  north  of  Pennsjdvania,  but  is  pretty  com- 
mon in  the  maritime  parts  of  tlie  Southern  States, 
where  it  is  met  with  in  the  rich  soils  of  tlie  river 
swamps.  With  a  height  of  80  or  90  feet  and  propor- 
tional diameter,  a  straight  truidv  and  expansive 
tufted  summit,  it  forms  a  beautiful  and  majestic  tree. 
The  leaves  are  6  to  8  inches  long,  broader  toward 
the  outer  end,  with  coarse  rounded  teetli  on  tlie 
edges,  and  pale  down  underneath,  and  of  that  ashy 
hue  which  distinguishes  all  the  species  of  this  section 
of  Oaks.  The  acorns  are  about  1  inch  long,  nearly 
hcilf  covered  by  the  cup,  and  with  a  stem  al)out  ^ 
inch  long.     In  economical  value  this  can  hold  but  a 


58      THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

second  or  third  rank  among  the  White  Oaks.  The 
timber  has  strength  and  durability,  and  is  therefore 
employed  for  various  purposes ;  but  it  is  more  porous 
than  that  of  White  or  Post  Oak.  It  has  a  straight 
split  and  shreds  easily,  and  is  therefore  employed, 
especially  by  the  negroes,  in  the  making  of  baskets 
and  brooms.  Rails  from  this  tree  will  last  12  or  15 
years,  and  the  fuel  is  considered  valuable. 

We  have  two  varieties  of  this  tree,  so  well  marked 
that  some  botanists  have  regarded  them  as  distinct 
species.  But  our  best  living  botanists  now  consider 
them  as  variations  from  one  type  caused  by  difference 
of  soil  and  situation.     They  are  as  follows  : 

Swamp  White  OaJc.  (Van  discolor,  Michx.) — It  is 
generally  known  throughout  the  United  States  by 
this  name,  and  takes  the  place  of  the  S^vamp  Chestnut 
Oak  as  we  proceed  inland  from  the  range  of  the 
latter,  and  is  found  on  the  edges  of  swamps  and  in- 
undated banks  of  rivers,  not  in  the  open  and  drier 
forests.  It  is  a  handsome  tree  of  70  or  80  feet  high, 
with  luxuriant  foliage,  the  silvery  whiteness  of  the 
underside  of  the  leaves  beautifully  contrasting  with 
the  bright  green  of  the  upper  surface,  when  they  are 
stirred  by  a  gentle  wind.  The  leaves  are  5  or  6 
inches  long,  in  form  like  the  preceding,  but  with  the 
marginal  teeth  more  unequal.  The  acorns  are  sup- 
ported on  a  stem  1  to  3  inches  long,  by  which  char- 
acter this  variety  may  be  easily  distinguished  from 
every  other  Oak  in  this  section.  The  wood  is  strong 
and  elastic,  and  heavier  than  IVliite  Oak,  to  which  it 


THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  59 

nearly  approaches  in  value ;  though,  not  being  com- 
mon, it  is  much  less  used  in  the  arts. 

Rock  Chestnut  Oak.  (Var  :  monticola,  Michx.)  — 
This  is  sometimes  called  Rock  Oak  and  Chestnut  Oak^ 
and  is  found  as  far  north  as  New  England.  It  is  an 
inhabitant  only  of  high  rocky  or  gravelly  situations, 
and  hence  occurs  only  in  the  Middle  and  Upper  Dis- 
tricts of  this  State.  It  is  a  showy,  symmetrical  tree 
in  favorable  situations,  with  a  luxuriant  foliage, 
sometimes  attaining  a  height  of  50  or  60  feet,  and  a 
diameter  of  3  feet ;  but,  from  the  usual  barrenness 
of  the  soil  where  it  grows,  it  is  seldom  seen  of  these 
dimensions,  and  is  commonly  not  more  than  30  or  40 
feet  high.  In  the  leaves  and  fruit  it  differs  very 
slightly  from  the  Sivamp  Chestnut  Oak.  The  timber 
is  valuable  but  not  equal  to  White  Oak^  its  pores 
being  more  open.  In  ship-building  it  is  used,  in 
some  places,  for  the  lower  part  of  the  frame,  for  knees 
and  ribs.  It  has  a  reddish  tinge  like  that  of  Wiite 
Oak.  For  fuel  it  is  inferior  only  to  Hickory.  The 
bark  is  among  the  best  for  tanning. 

5.  Chestnut  Oak.  (Q.  Castanea,  Willd.)  —  Not 
uncommon  in  the  Middle  and  Western  States,  but  it 
occurs  very  scatteringly  in  the  Southern.  I  have  not 
noticed  it  in  North  Carolina,  but  Michaux  mentions 
a  single  tree  seen  by  him  on  the  Cape  Fear,  a  mile 
from  Fayetteville.  He  also  found  it  on  the  Holston 
and  Nolachucky  rivers  in  East  Tennessee,  and  it 
ma}^  perhaps  be  found  on  those  streams  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  our  State.     The  tree  rises  to  a  height  of 


60      THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

70  and  80  feet,  with  a  diameter  of  2  feet,  the  branches 
rather  erect  than  spreading.  It  is  so  sparingly  dif- 
fused, that  the  value  of  the  wood  has  never  been 
tested ;  but  its  excessive  porousness  promises  poorly. 
It  has  a  yellowish  tinge,  and  is  therefore  known  in 
some  localities  under  the  name  of  Yelloiv  Oak.  This 
species  is  often  confounded  with  the  Sivamp  Oaks 
described  above,  which  it  certainly  resembles ;  but 
its  leaves  are  narrower,  shaped  more  like  those  of 
the  Chestnut,  (whence  its  popular  name,)  with  the 
teeth  nearly  sharp ;  and  its  acorns  are  only  about 
two-thirds  of  an  inch  long.  With  its  fine  form  and 
handsome  foliage,  this  would  be  very  ornamental  in 
private  grounds. 

6.  Chinquapin  Oak.  (Q.  prinoides,  Willd.) — 
Sometimes  called  Dwarf  Chestnut  Oak.  Its  foliage  is 
somewhat  like  that  of  the  Rock  Chestnut  Oak.,  and 
also  has  some  likeness  to  that  of  the  Chinquapin., 
which  gives  it  its  common  name.  It  is  a  mere  shrub, 
2  to  4  feet  high,  of  no  value,  and  is  here  mentioned 
only  to  give  a  complete  view  of  the  genus.  It  is 
found  very  sparingly  in  the  Lower  District,  but  is 
not  uncommon  upon  poor  soils  in  the  upper  parts  of 
the  State. 

Section  II.  contains  three  distinct  Divisions  ;  the 
■first.,  with  leaves  narrow  and  entire  ; — the  seco7id,  with 
leaves  broad,  generally  entire,  and  pear-shaped ;  the 
third,  with  leaves  broad  and  cut  into  several  seg- 
ments. 


THE   TREES    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA.  61 

Division  1st.  Division  3d. 

Live  Oak,  (Quercus  virens.)  Spanish  Oak,  (Q.  falcata.) 

Willow  Oak,  (Q.  Phellos.)  Black  Oak,  (Q.  tinctoria.) 

Shingle  Oak,  (Q.  inibricaria.)  Scarlet  Oak,  (Q.  coccinea.) 

Laurel  Oak,  (Q.  laurifolia  )  Red  Oak,  (Q.  rubra.) 

Upland  Willow  Oak,  (Q.  cinerea.)  Scrub  Oak,  (Q.  Catesbrei.) 

Bear  Oak,  (Q.  ilicifolia.) 

Division  2d. 
Water  Oak,  (Q.  aquatica.) 
y  Black  Jack,  (Q.  nigra.) 

7.  Live  Oak.  (Q.  virens,  Ait.)— Well  known 
under  this  name  wherever  it  exists,  and  needing  no 
description.  It  is  found  along  the  sea-shore  from 
near  Norfolk,  Va.,  to  the  coast  of  Texas.  It  is  com- 
monly 40  or  50  feet  high,  and  1  or  2  feet  through  the 
trunk.  Of  all  the  Oaks  this  is  the  most  highly 
prized  for  ship-building,  the  timber  hardening  with 
age,  and  being  closer  grained  and  more  durable  than 
any  other.     The  bark  also  is  excellent  for  tanning. 

8.  Willow  Oak.  (Q.  Phellos,  Linn.) — This 
beautiful  tree,  remarkable  for  the  narrowness  of  its 
leaves,  which  gives  the  foliage  much  the  appearance 
of  that  of  a  Willotv^  and  by  which  it  is  easily  recog- 
nized at  considerable  distance,  extends  north  as  far 
as  New  Jersey.  It  aifects  cool  moist  situations,  and 
is  not  uncommon  on  the  borders  of  swamps  in  the 
Lower  District,  where  it  rises  to  the  height  of  50  to 
60  feet,  with  a  diameter  of  2  feet.  In  the  Middle 
District  it  is  more  scatteringly  found  in  similar  situ- 
ations. It  is  more  to  be  admired  for  its  beauty  than 
its  use,  as  the  wood  is  very   coarse  grained,   and  ill 


62       THE  TEEES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

adapted  to  purposes  requiring  much  strength  and  du- 
rability ;  though  it  is  said  to  answer  tolerably  well, 
if  thoroughly  seasoned,  for  the  felloes  of  wheels. 

9.  Laurel  Oak.  (Q.  laurifolia,  Michx.) — This 
is  a  stately  tree,  of  similar  dimensions  to  the  preced- 
ing, which  it  somewhat  resembles,  though  the  leaves 
are  neither  so  long  nor  narrow,  and  are  not  always 
entire.  It  holds  a  middle  place,  in  its  general  appear- 
ance and  qualities,  between  the  Willow  Oak  and  nar- 
row leaved  Water  Oak.  The  acorn  resembles  those 
of  the  latter.  I  am  not  aware  that  it  has  any  dis- 
tinctive name  in  this  State,  as  it  seems  to  be  gener- 
ally confounded  with  one  or  other  of  the  species  just 
mentioned.  In  South  Carolina  along  a  portion  of  the 
Pee  Dee,  it  has  a  local  name  of  Darlington  Oak.  The 
English  name  which  I  have  chosen  is  only  a  transla- 
tion of  the  botanical  name.  I  believe  this  tree  is  not 
found  north  of  this  State,  but  it  is  common  south- 
ward to  Florida.  It  is  an  inhabitant  of  our  Lower 
and  Middle  Districts  in  similar  localities  with  the 
preceding,  but  flourishes  well  in  higher  and  drier 
grounds,  and  is  a  common  and  much  admired  shade 
tree  in  towns  and  villages,  especially  in  the  lower 
parts  of  the  State. 

10.  Shingle  Oak.  (Q.  imbricaria,  Michx.) — 
This  takes  the  place  of  the  preceding  Oak  in  the 
Upper  District,  not  being  found  east  of  Burke  and 
Wilkes.  From  thence  westward  it  becomes  more 
abundant  along  the  larger  water-courses,  especially 
those  which  flow  to  the  west,  as  the  Pigeon  and  Hi- 


THE  TEEES  OF  KOETH  CAROLINA.       63 

wassee.  Its  northern  limit  is  in  western  Pennsyl- 
vania. It  is  more  common  in  the  Western  States,  as 
far  north  as  Illinois,  and  is  there  known  by  the  names 
of  Jack  Odk^  Black  Jack  Oak^  Laurel  Oak  and  Shin- 
gle Oak.  In  those  parts  of  our  State  where  it  occurs, 
I  have  heard  it  called  only  Water  Oak^  a  name  very 
generally  applied  elsewhere  to  a  very  different  species. 
This  is  from  40  to  50  feet  high  and  12  to  15  inches  in 
diameter,  branches  low,  and  casts  a  thick  shade  with 
its  dark  crowded  foliage.  The  leaves  are  3  or  4 
inches  long,  about  1  inch  broad,  and  of  a  light  shin- 
ing green.  The  wood  is  hard  and  heavy,  but  porous, 
and  inferior  to  that  of  Willoiv  Oak,  which  it  resem- 
bles. In  Illinois  it  has  been  used  for  shingles,  prob- 
ably for  want  of  a  better  material.  On  the  Pigeon 
River  I  have  noticed  a  few  trees  with  the  leaves  more 
or  less  cut  or  lobed,  which  are  probably  a  cross  be- 
tween the  Shmgle  Oak  and  one  of  the  Red  Oaks, 
though  their  whole  appearance  and  habit  were,  in 
other  respects,  those  of  the  former.  This  is  Q.  Leana, 
•Nutt. 

11.  Upland  Willow^  Oak.  (Q.  cinerea,  Michx.) 
— Found  only  in  the  Pine  barrens  of  the  Lower  Dis- 
trict, where  it  is  very  generally  diffused.  It  rarely 
exceeds  20  feet  in  height  and  6  inches  in  diameter, 
though  I  have  seen  it,  when  standing  alone  and  in 
favorable  situations,  quite  a  large  tree  with  a  circum- 
ference of  3  feet.  As  a  general  thing  it  may  be  con- 
sidered too  insignificant  to  merit  more  than  a  passing 
notice.     Its  foliage  is  of  an  ashy  hue.     The  bark  af- 


64  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

fords  a  fine  yellow  dye ;  but  the  tree  is  too  small  and 
too  little  multiplied  to  furnish  material  for  extensive 
use.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  Pee  Dee  River  this  Oak 
is  called  Blue  Jack. 

There  is  a  dwarf  variety  of  this,  called  Running 
Oak  and  White  Oak  Runners  (var :  pumila,  Michx.), 
which  is,  I  believe,  the  smallest  Oak  known.  It 
rarely  reaches  a  height  of  3  feet,  and  bears  a  profu- 
sion of  acorns  at  the  height  of  15  and  20  inches.  The 
foliage  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  preceding,  but  is 
smaller  and  becomes  smoother  in  age.  It  abounds  in 
creeping  roots  from  which  its  small  stocks  spring.  It 
is  found  only  in  the  Lower  District,  especially  near 
Wilmington,  from  whence  it  is  sparingly  found  in  the 
Barrens  as  far  to  the  south  as  Florida. 

12.  Water  Oak.  (Q.  aquatica.  Gates.) — This  is 
not  found  beyond  Maryland.  It  is  abundant  in  our 
Lower  District,  and  in  some  parts  of  the  Middle,  on 
the  borders  of  swamps  and  in  the  river  bottoms,  and 
extends  somewhat  into  the  Upper.  It  is  40  or  50 
feet  high,  and  12  to  20  inches  in  diameter.  The 
leaves  are  pear-shaped,  as  in  the  Black  Jack.,  being 
much  the  broadest  at  the  upper  end,  but  are  smaller, 
smoother  and  j)aler  green  than  in  that  species.  The 
bark  is  seldom  used  for  tanning.  The  wood,  though 
very  tough,  is  not  much  employed  for  economical 
purposes,  being  inferior  to  other  kinds  of  Oak.  On 
the  Roanoke  I  have  heard  this  called  Turkey  Oak^ 
a  name  also  given  to  the  Spanish  and  Post  Oaks. 

The  foliage  of  this  tree  varies  very  much  in  differ- 


THE   TREES    OF    NOIITII    CAROLINA.  G5 

ent  situations,  it  being  sometimes  narrow  and  very 
little,  if  at  all,  broader  at  the  upper  than  at  the  lower 
end,  so  as  to  resemble  very  much  that  of  the  Sldnrjle 
Oak.  But  any  one  who  is  familiar  with  the  common 
form  and  habit  of  the  Water  Oak  will  not  be  easily 
deceived  in  its  varieties. 

13.  Black  Jack.  (Q.  nigra,  Linn.) — This  small 
and  generally  unsightly  tree,  easily  recognized  at  a 
distance,  when  it  is  of  much  size,  by  its  lower  limbs 
hanging  downwards,  sometimes  to  the  very  ground, 
is  found  as  far  north  as  New  Jersey  and  extends  into 
the  Western  States,  as  well  as  southward  to  Florida. 
In  this  State  we  meet  with  it  in  various  soils  and  sit- 
uations from  the  coast  to  the  mountains,  seldom  ex- 
ceeding 30  feet  in  height  and  12  inches  in  diameter. 
In  the  largest  stocks  the  wood  is  heavy  and  compact, 
l)ut  coarse  grained  and  porous  in  the  smaller  ones. 
When  exposed  to  the  weather  it  is  subject  to  rapid 
decay,  and  is  not  of  any  value  in  the  arts.  For  fuel 
it  is  among  the  best  woods  we  have.  The  leaves  are 
large  (6  to  9  inches  long),  of  a  dark  green  above, 
and  of  a  rusty  color  beneath.  On  young  shoots,  as 
is  frequent  on  other  trees,  tlie  leaves  are  often  twice 
their  ordimiry  size,  and  divided  into  several  segments, 
as  in  the  Red  Oaks.  ■ 

We  now  come  to  a  Division  of  the  Oaks  known  as 
that  of  the  Red  Oaks^  in  which  there  is  such  a  confu- 
sion of  popular  names  that  they  will  be  of  little  ser- 
vice in  designating  the  species.  There  is  no  uni- 
formity in  their  application  in  different  parts  of  the 


66  THE    TREES    OF   JS^ORTH   CAROLINA. 

State,  and  within  the  same  neighborhood  the  same 
name  may  be  given  to  different  species,  or  different 
names  to  the  same  species.  This  is  not  very  surpris- 
ing, since  there  is  so  much  resemblance  among  them, 
and  as  there  is  apparently  a  tendency  to  crosses 
among  the  members  of  this  Division.  It  is  indeed 
sometimes  rather  difficult  to  determine  whether  a  par- 
ticular tree  belongs  to  one  or  other  of  two  or  three 
pretty  well  marked  species.  I  shall  therefore  be 
obliged  to  describe  the  following  more  minutely 
than  I  have  the  preceding,  though  I  shall  only  notice 
the  most  common  or  typical  forms.  The  names 
given  below  are  those  by  which  the  species  are  most 
commonly  known  in  different  parts  of  the  United 
States. 

14.  Spanish  Oak.  (Q.  falcata,  Michx.) — This  is 
generally  known  in  this  State,  I  think,  by  the  name 
of  Red  OaJc,  though  sometimes  called  as  above.  It 
is  also,  in  some  parts,  denominated  Turkey  Oak,  from 
a  vague  resemblance  between  the  form  of  the  leaf 
(when  it  has  but  three  divisions)  and  the  track  of  a 
turkey.  It  is  to  be  distinguished,  even  at  some  dis- 
tance, from  other  species  of  this  section  by  the  gray- 
ish down  on  the  underside  of  the  leaves  and  on  the 
young  shoots  upon  which  they  grow,  giving  the  tree 
a  very  different  hue  from  that  of  the  others.  The 
leaves,  too,  have  narrower  divisions  (3  to  7  in  num- 
ber) than  the  others,  generally  entire,  and  slightly 
curved  backwards.  The  manner  in  which  the  clus- 
ters  of  leaves   hang   down   from    the    ends   of  the 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.       67 

branches  gives  them  a  phimc-like  aspect  very  unlike 
those  of  the  other  species. 

The  Spanisli  Oak  is  found  as  far  north  as  New 
Jersey,  and  southward  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  In 
this  State  it  is  one  of  the  most  common  forest  trees 
from  tlie  coast  to  the  mountains,  but  diminishes  in 
quantity  as  we  approach  the  latter.  It  is  often  over 
80  feet  in  height,  with  a  diameter  of  4  to  5  feet.  The 
bark  of  the  trunk  is  dark-colored,  its  outer  portion 
(cellular  integument)  being  of  moderate  thickness. 
The  wood  is  reddish  and  coarse-grained,  with  empty 
pores.  The  staves  made  of  it  are  only  adapted  to 
contain  coarse  articles,  but  are  said  to  be  more  es- 
teemed in  the  West  Indies  than  those  made  from  the 
other  Red  Oaks.  The  wood  is  less  durable  than  that 
of  the  White  Oaks,  and  is  not  much  used  in  building, 
etc.  The  bark  is  held  in  high  estimation  for  tanning 
hides,  which  it  renders  whiter  and  more  supple  than 
other  species. 

A  variety  of  this  species  (var :  pagodrefolia,  Ell.) 
ha^  larger  leaves,  cut  into  11  to  13  divisions,  gradu- 
ally diminishing  in  length  from  the  lower  to  the 
upper  divisions.  Another  variety  (var:  triloba, 
i\Iichx.)  has  leaves  with  two  or  three  short  and 
rounded  divisions  at  the  outer  end,  but  may  always 
be  recognized  by  the  gray  down  on  the  underside 
and  its  accordance  in  other  respects  with  the  common 
form. 

15.  Black  Oak.  (Q.  tinctoria,  P)artr.)  —  A  tree 
80  to  90  feet  high  and  4  to  5  feet  in  diameter.     Tlie 


68       THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

trunlv  has  a  deeply  furrowed,  dark  brown  bark,  from 
whence  the  tree  prgbably  gets  its  name.  The  leaves 
are  cut  rather  deeply  into  5  or  7  divisions,  the  divis- 
ions being  also  somewhat  toothed,  and  each  part 
tipped  with  a  bristle.  They  have  also  a  thin,  rusty 
down  on  the  underside.  The  leaf-stem  is  from  1  to 
2  inches  long.  During  the  Spring  and  part  of  Sum- 
mer their  upper  surface  is  roughened  with  small 
glands  which  are  perceptible  to  the  sight  and  touch. 
On  young  stocks  they  turn  dull  red  in  the  Fall ;  those 
on  old  stocks,  yellow.  When  the  leaves  have  fallen, 
this  species  may  be  distinguished  from  the  iSjjajiish 
Oak  by  the  longer,  more  acute  and  more  scaly  buds, 
and  also  by  chewing  a  bit  of  the  bark,  which  gives  a 
yellow  color  to  the  saliva.  The  wood  is  reddish  and 
coarse-grained,  with  empty  pores,  but  is  stronger  and 
more  durable  than  any  other  of  the  Bed  Oaks  ;  and 
where  White  Oak  cannot  be  obtained,  is  a  good  sub- 
stitute for  it  in  buildings.  Staves  are  largely  made 
of  it  for  containing  coarse  articles.  The  bark  is  very 
rich  in  tannin,  and  is  in  much  request.  From  this 
bark  is  obtained  the  Quercitron^  which  is  extensively 
used  in  dyeing  wool,  calico,  silk,  and  paper-hangings. 
The  decoction  is  brownish  j^ellow,  and  is  made  deeper 
by  an  alkali,  lighter  by  acids,  and  brighter  by  a  solu- 
tion of  tin. 

This  tree  is  common  in  the  United  States  east  and 
west  of  the  Alleghanies,  reaching  north  to  New  Eng- 
land, and  is  said  to  indicate  a  good  soil  for  agri- 
culture.    It  is  most  abundant  in  the  upper  part  of 


THE   TREES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  69 

the  State.  If  it  exists  in  tlie  Lower  District,  it  must 
be  sparingly. 

IG.  Scarlet  Oak.  (Q.  coccinea,  Wang.)  —  This 
is  generally  confounded  with  the  preceding  species, 
and  called  Spanish  and  Red  Oak  in  this  State.  It 
can  be  distinguished  from  the  Black  Oak  by  the 
leaves  being  more  deejily  cut,  the  divisions  narrower 
and  more  widely  separated,  but  especially  by  their 
being  quite  smooth  on  both  sides  and  of  a  brighter 
shining  green,  turning  bright  scarlet  after  frost.  The 
leaf-stem  is  als(3  more  slender  and  twice  as  long  as  in 
tlie  Black  Oak.  The  kernel  of  the  acorn  seems  also 
to  supi)ly  a  uniform  character  of  distinction, — that 
of  the  Scarlet  Oak  being  white,  and  of  the  Black  Oak, 
yellowish.  Tlie  bark,  when  chewed,  does* not,  like 
that  of  the  Black  Oak,  impart  a  3^ellowish  tinge  to 
the  saliva.  The  wood  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the 
preceding  species,  but  is  not  very  durable,  and  is  not 
used  for  building,  etc.,  when  better  material  can  be 
had.  What  is  known  as  Bed  Oak  staves  are  made 
from  this  as  well  as  from  the  two  j)re(.*ediug  species. 
The  bark  is  much  inferior  for  tanning  to  that  of  the 
Black  Oak. 

This  tree  ranges  from  New  England  to  Georgia 
and  Florida.  In  this  State  it  abounds  chielly  in  the 
Middle  and  Upper  Districts,  it  not  being  generall}^ 
diffused  in  the  Lower. 

17.  Red  Oak.  (Q.  rul)ra,  Linn.)— This,  like  the 
preceding  species,  is  sometimes  called  Spanish  Oak, 
though  it  is  as  strongly  marked  a  tree  as  can  be  found 


70  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

in  our  forests.  The  leaves  are  larger  (6  to  9  inches 
long),  than  any  others  in  this  Division,  not  so  deeply 
cut,  smooth  and  green  on  both  sides,  changing  in  the 
Fall  to  dull  red,  then  to  yellow.  The  acorns  in  par- 
ticular furnish  a  character  which  at  once  discrimi- 
nates this  from  all  the  Red  Oaks,  they  being  of 
larger  size  (1  inch  long),  and  having  yevj  flat  shaUoiv 
cups.  The  wood  is  reddish  and  coarse  grained,  and 
the  pores  very  large.  It  is  strong  but  not  durable, 
and  is  much  inferior  to  the  other  Bed  Oaks,  though 
staves  are  sometimes  made  of  it.  The  bark  is  infe- 
rior for  tanning  to  that  of  the  Black  or  Scarlet  Oak. 

This  tree  extends  farther  north  than  any  other  of 
our  Oaks,  reaching  into  Canada.  It  is  tall  and  wide 
spreading,  sometimes  over  80  feet  high,  and  3  to  4 
feet  in  diameter.  For  its  full  development  it  re- 
quires a  cool  arid  fertile  situation,  and  hence  abounds 
more  in  the  interior  parts  of  the  State.  In  the 
Lower  District  it  is  found  but  sparingly. 

18.  Scrub  Oak.  (Q.  Catesbsei,  Michx.) — This 
grows  onl}^  in  the  sandy  barrens  of  the  Lower  Dis- 
trict, but  may  be  found  from  the  coast  westward  to 
the  counties  of  Richmond  and  Moore.  I  am  not 
aware  of  its  existence  north  of  this  State,  but  it  is 
found  southward  to  Florida.  It  seldom  exceeds  a 
height  of  25  feet,  and  is  most  commonly  from  10  to 
15  feet  high.  Among  the  Bed  Oaks  this  species  is 
easily  recognized,  not  only  by  its  situation  and  hum- 
ble size,  but  by  the  very  short  leaf-stem.  In  this  last 
particular,  as  well  as  in  its  habit,  and  in  the  color, 


THE   TREES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  71 

texture  aiitl  weight  of  tlie  wood,  it  luis  a  close  rela- 
tion to  the  Black  Jack;  and  in  South  Carolina  is 
called  Forked-leaf  Black  Jack.  Indeed,  when  the 
leaves  are  fallen,  the  two  are  rather  difficult  to  be 
distinguished.  For  fuel  they  hold  about  the  same 
rank.  The  bark  is  said  to  be  valuable  for  tanning, 
but  is  too  scanty  to  be  much  used. 

19.  Bear  Oak.  (Q.  ilicifolia,  Wang.) — A  shrub, 
ordinarily  about  3  to  5  feet  high,  extending  from 
New  York  southward  through  the  mountains  of 
Virginia  (where  it  is  common)  and  North  Carolina 
(very  rare),  to  Georgia.  The  leaves  are  2  to  3 
inches  long,  cut  about  half  way  to  the  middle  nerve 
into  two  divisions  on  each  side,  and  with  a  white 
down  on  the  underside.  AVorthless  in  itself,  Init  a 
good  indicator  of  barren  soil. 

HICKORIES. — The  general  qualities  of  the  wood 
of  these  species  are  so  similar,  that,  to  avoid  repe- 
tition, they  may  as  well  be  indicated  here,  so  far  as 
they  belong  to  the  whole  genus  or  to  any  of  its  Divis- 
ions. For  weight,  strength,  and  tenacity  of  fil)re,  we 
have  no  wood  superior  ;  but  its  value  is  impaired  by 
a  tendency  to  rapid  decay  on  ex})0sure,  and  its  pecu- 
liar liability  to  injury  from  worms.  Ilcnee  it  cannot 
be  used  in  ])uildings.  But  the  wood  of  the  diflerent 
species  is  indiscriminately  used  for  axle  trees,  axe- 
handles,  carpenters'  tools,  screws,  cogs  of  mill  wheels, 
the  frames  of  chairs,  whip  handles,  musket  stocks, 
rake  teeth,  flails,  etc.,  etc.     For  hoops  we  have  noth- 


72  THE   TPvEES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

ing  equal  to  it.  These  are  made  from  young  stocks. 
For  fuel,  there  is  no  wood  which  gives  such  intense 
heat  and  heavy  long-lived  coals.  For  this  use, 
although  discrimination  is  seldom  made,  the  Common 
Hickory  is  said  to  be  the  best,  and  the  Bitter-nut 
Hickory  the  poorest.  For  timber,  Shell-Bark  and 
Pig-nut  Hickories  are  reputed  the  best. 

It  is  to  be  observed  upon  this  genus  of  trees,  that  the 
species  are  subject  to  considerable  variation  both  in 
foliage  and  fruit, — sometimes  apparently  from  crosses, 
as  well  as  from  difference  of  situation, — and  hence  are 
very  difficult  of  discrimination  without  long  and  pa- 
tient attention.  This  I  have  not  given  them,  and  am 
therefore  unable  to  indicate  anything  like  an  accurate 
range  of  the  species  enumerated  below,  which  have 
been  carefully  examined  only  in  particular  localities. 

The  Hickories  are  peculiar  to  North  America,  of 
which  Ave  have  nine  species.  In  this  State  I  have  seen 
but  six,  thaugh  I  give  seven  in  tlie  following  list. 
The  species  are  very  naturally  arranged  in  three 
Divisions.  The  first  Division  is  characterized  by 
the  husk  falling  away  from  the  Nut  in  four  entire 
pieces,  and  the  bark  of  the  old  trunk  peeling  off  in 
long  flakes  or  plates.  These  are  the  Shell-Barks  or 
Shag-Barks.  The  second  has  a  husk  which  does  not 
divide  dow^n  to  its  base,  and  the  bark  of  the  trunk  is 
not  shaggy.  These  two,  especially  the  first,  have 
Nuts  with  a  sweet  eatable  kernel.  The  third  Divis- 
ion has  Nuts  with  a  thin  shell  and  husk,  and  an 
astringent  bitter  kernel. 


THE  TREES  OF  NOUTH  CAROLINA.       i6 

Din'sion   l.s7. 
Sliell-biii-k  Hickory,  (Carya  alha.) 
Thick  Shell-bark  Hickory,  (C.  sulcata.) 

Division  2d. 
Common  Hickory,  (C.  tomentosa.) 
ri<;-mit  Hickory,  (C.  glabra.) 
Small-nut  Hickory,  (C.  microcarpa.) 

Division  3d. 
Bitter-nut  Hickory,  (C.  amara.) 
Water  Bitter-nut  Hickory,  (C.  aquatica.) 

1.  Shell-Babk  Hickory.  (Caiya  alba,  Nutt.) — 
Tliis  is  not  abundant  in  any  part  of  the  State,  and 
least  of  all  in  the  Lower  District.  It  grows  upon 
the  rich  lands  on  and  near  watercourses.  It  is  much 
more  common  in  the  Northern  States  than  in  the 
Southern.  It  is  GO  to  80  feet  higli,  with  a  dispropor- 
tionate diameter  of  15  to  20  inches  for  three  fourths 
of  its  length.  The  narrow  strips  of  outer  bark  loos- 
ened from  the  trunk,  attached  only  l)y  tlie  middle, 
while  the  two  ends  are  bowed  outwards,  wliich  char- 
acterize this  and  the  next  s})ecies,  are  observable 
only  on  stocks  that  exceed  10  inches  in  diameter  and 
are  8  to  10  years  old.  But  the  leaflets  are  almost 
uniformly  in  two  pairs,  (rarely  three,)  witli  an  odd 
one  at  the  end  of  the  common  leaf-stem.  Tlie  nuts 
are  nearly  pointless,  and  witli  a  tliin  wliite  shell. 
They  are  the  finest  nuts  we  have,  excepting  perhaps 
the  Pecan  Nut  (C.  oliva'formis),  of  the  Soutliwestern 
States. 

2.  Thick  Shell-Bakk   Hkkoky.     {Q,.  sulcata, 


74       THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Nutt.)  —  Most  common  in  the  Middle  and  Western 
States.  I  have  not  met  with  it  in  this  State,  and  it 
is  introduced  here  on  the  authority  of  others.  It 
may  be  looked  for  only  in  the  extreme  western  part 
of  the  State,  especially  along  the  rivers  flowing  west- 
ward. 

This  ma}^  be  distinguished  from  the  preceding  spe- 
cies by  its  three  pairs  (sometimes  four)  of  leaflets  on 
the  common  leaf-stem,  and  by  the  thick  yelloivish 
shell  of  the  nut,  which  is  also  ribbed  on  its  upper 
half,  and  has  a  strong  point.  The  kernel  is  smaller, 
and  hardly  so  sweet  as  in  the  preceding. 

3.  Common  Hickory.  (C.  tomentosa,  Nutt.)  — 
Found  in  all  the  States,  and  common  in  our  own  for- 
ests from  the  coast  to  the  mountains,  the  only  one 
which  occurs  in  the  barrens.  All  the  Hickories  are 
generally  characteristic  of  a  good  soil,  and  this  is  no 
exception  only  when  it  grows  in  the  barrens,  as  it  is 
most  vigorous  in  rich  soils.  It  is  about  60  feet  high 
and  18  to  20  inches  in  diameter.  This  species  is 
white  to  the  heart,  for  which  reason,  probably,  it  is 
called  White  Hickory  in  some  parts  of  the  State.  The 
other  species  have  their  wood  more  or  less  reddish. 
The  leaflets  are  from  7  to  9  (generally  7).  The  fruit 
has  a  thick  husk,  splitting  nearly  to  the  base.  The 
nut  is  of  various  forms,  but  is  somewhat  six-angled, 
of  a  light  browo  color,  with  a  very  thick  shell  and 
small  kernel. 

4.  Pig-Nut  Hickory.  (C.  glabra,  Torr.)— Found 
in  most  of  the  States.     It  is  70  to  80  feet  high,  scat- 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.       75 

teringly  disseminated  among  the  other  Hickories 
throughout  North  Carolina.  It  can  be  distinguished 
in  Winter  by  the  shoots  of  the  preceding  Summer, 
whicli  are  brown,  and  not  half  the  size  of  those  of 
the  preceding  species.  These  are  exceedingly  tough 
and  of  the  best  quality  for  Hickory  withes.  The  leaf- 
lets are  smooth  on  both  sides,  5  to  7  in  number.  The 
fruit  is  generally  pear-shaped,  the  husk  thin  and 
green,  the  shell  of  the  nut  very  hard  and  smooth, 
and  the  kernel  small  and  sweetish. 

5.  Small-Nut  Hickory.  (C.  microcarpa,  Nutt.) 
— This  is  more  common  in  the  Northern  States  than 
with  us.  I'have  observed  it  only  in  Caldwell  County, 
though  it  probably  exists  in  most  of  the  western 
counties,  intermingled  with  the  Common  Hickory.  It 
is  of  similar  dimensions  with  the  latter,  but  the 'bark 
of  the  trunk  is  much  more  even.  The  foliage  is 
much  like  that  of  tlie  Pig-nut.  The  nut  is  roundish, 
not  much  larger  than  a  nutmeg,  with  a  thin  shell. 

6.  Bitter-Nut  Hickory.  (C.  amara,  Nutt.)  — 
Not  uncommon  from  the  coast  to  the  mountains,  pre- 
ferring rich  and  cool  soils,  where  it  rises  to  the  height 
of  70  to  80  feet,  with  a  diameter  of  two  or  more.  It 
is  sometimes  called  Stvamp  Hickory.  The  foliage  ap- 
pears later  than  that  of  the  other  species.  The  leaf- 
lets are  7  to  11  and  smooth.  It  can  be  recognized  in 
winter  by  its  small,  yellow  buds.  The  fruit  has  a 
thin  husk  which  has  prominent  seams  opening  about 
half-way  to  the  base,  and  a  nut  with  a  thin  shell  that 
can  be  crushed  with  the  fingers.     The  kernel  is  ex- 


76  THE  TREES   OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

cessively  bitter  and  astringent,  not  likely  to  be  for- 
gotten by  any  who  liave  eaten  it.  The  timber  is 
inferior  to  that  of  the  others. 

7.  Water  Bitter-Nut  Hickory.  (C.  aquatica, 
Nutt.) — This  is  40  to  50  feet  high,  found  only  in  the 
swamps  and  river  bottoms  from  North  Carolina  south- 
ward. It  is  generally  confounded  with  the  preced- 
ing, from  which  it  can  be  distinguished  at  some  dis- 
tance by  the  more  numerous  (9  to  13)  and  more 
slender  leaflets,  which  are  shaped  very  much  like  the 
leaves  of  the  Peach,  though  larger.  Fruit  with  a 
thin  husk  parted  nearly  to  the  base ;  a  nut  with  thin 
shell  and  of  a  reddish  color,  and  the  kernels  bitter 
as  in  the  preceding.  The  timber  is  rather  inferior, 
even  to  that  of  No.  6. 

WALNUTS.— 1.  Black  Walnut.  (Juglans  ni- 
gra, Linn.) — This  tree  is  well  known  throughout  the 
State  by  this  name,  and  needs  no  particular  descrip- 
tion. With  us  it  is  40  to  50  feet  high;  but  in  the 
richer  lands  of  the  Western  States  it  is  often  70  feet, 
with  a  diameter  of  6  and  7.  It  is  most  abundant  in 
our  Middle  District.  The  timber  is  much  used  in 
cabinet  work,  is  of  a  dark  brown  color,  strong  and 
tenacious,  the  grain  fine  and  compact  enough  for 
receiving  a  polish,  and  when  well  seasoned  does  not 
warp  and  split.  It  is  also  exempt  from  attacks  of 
worms.  The  Nut  is  globular,  and  its  kernel  sweet 
and  agreeable  to  most  persons,  though  inferior  to  the 
European  Walnut  (J.   regia.)     The  young  fruit   is 


THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  77 

highly  esteemed  for  pickles  and  catsup.  The  hnsk 
is  employed  in  domestic  use  for  dyeing  woollens. 
This  is  a  pleasant  shade-tree,  and  mingles  well  with 
others  about  a  residence. 

2.  White  Walnut.  (J.  cinerea,  Linn.) — This  is 
the  common  name  of  the  tree  in  the  section  of  State 
where  it  grows,  though  that  of  Butternut^  applied  to 
it  in  the  Northern  States,  is  not  unknown.  It  is 
found  upon  bottom  lands  and  river  banks  in  the 
valleys  of  the  Mountains.  I  have  not  met  with  it 
east  of  Wilkes,  but  am  informed  that  it  is  occasion- 
ally found  as  far  down  the  country  as  Orange  and 
Randolph.  Its  general  aspect  is  very  much  that  of 
the  Black  Walnut^  but  it  is  a  smaller  tree,  and  when 
in  fruit  can  be  at  once  recognized  by  the  Nuts,  which 
are  about  twice  as  long  as  broad.  When  not  in 
fruit,  the  pitchy  clamminess  of  the  leaf-stems  and 
young  branchlets,  together  with  the  smooth  gray 
bark  of  the  branches,  will  readily  distinguish  it.  In 
favorable  localities  at  the  North,  this  tree  attains  the 
height  of  50  feet,  with  a  diameter  of  3  or  more ;  but 
with  us  it  is  rather  smaller.  The  timber  is  of  a  red- 
dish hue,  not  of  much  strength,  but  durable  and 
free  from  attacks  of  worms.  It  is  used  in  lioht  cabi- 
net  work  and  in  the  panels  of  carriages,  as  it  is  light, 
not  liable  to  split,  and  receives  paint  remarkably 
well.  It  is  also  used  somewhat  in  the  lower  frame- 
work of  buildings  and  for  the  various  purposes  in 
rural  economy  which  require  material  not  easily 
affected  by  heat  and  moisture.     The  bark  is  some- 


78  THE  TREES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

times  used  for  dyeing  woollens  a  dark  brown,  though 
not  equal  for  this  purpose  to  that  of  Black  Walnut. 
It  is  also  a  domestic  remedy  for  cases  where  a  sure 
but  safe  and  gentle  cathartic  is  needed.  The  kernel 
of  the  Nut  is  more  oily  than  in  the  Black  Walnut^ 
but  is  palatable.  The  young  fruit  is  used  for  Pickles. 
The  sap  of  the  tree  is  slightly  saccharine,  and  sugar 
has  been  made  from  it,  but  not  equal  to  that  from 
the  Maple. 

CHESTNUTS.— 1.  Chestnut.  (Castanea  vesca, 
Linn.) — This  is  an  inhabitant  of  all  the  cooler  parts 
of  the  United  States.  With  us  i^  is  chiefly  confined 
to  the  mountains  from  Ashe  to  Cherokee,  and  is 
found  but  sparingly  on  hills  in  the  Middle  District 
as  low  down  as  Guilford  and  Randolph.  It  finds  its 
proper  soil  and  temperature  on  the  sides  of  our  high 
mountains,  where  it  probably  acquires  as  large  dimen- 
sions as  anywhere  in  the  Union  ;  stocks  being  some- 
times met  with  which,  at  6  feet  from  the  ground, 
measure  15  to  16  feet  in  circumference.  Its  usual 
height  is  from  50  to  70  feet,  but  is  sometimes  90, 
with  a  capacious  and  well  formed  top.  The  wood  is 
light,  tolerably  strong,  elastic,  and  capable  of  resist- 
ing the  effects  of  atmospheric  changes.  Its  dura- 
bility gives  it  great  value  for  fencing,  and  the  rails, 
which  are  split  out  straight  and  easily,  are  said  to 
last  50  years.  For  shingles  it  is  superior  to  the  Oaks, 
but  is  liable  to  warp.  It  is  sometimes  used  for 
cooperage,  but  is  too  porous  for  anything  but  dry 


THE  TKEES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.       79 

wares.  For  fuel  it  is  little  esteemed,  as  it  snaps 
most  intolerably,  almost  as  much  as  Hemlock  Spruce. 
But  for  charcoal  it  is  well  adapted,  and  in  this  form 
is  extensively  used  in  forges  and  smithies. 

Botanists  deem  our  Chestnut  to  be  onl}^  a  variety 
of  the  European.  The  wood  is  not  quite  so  fine 
grained,  and  the  nuts  are  only  about  half  the  size  of 
the  European,  but  they  are  much  sweeter  and  more 
palatable.  On  Mt.  ^tna  is  a  Chestnut  tree  (but 
apparently  of  five  united  trunks),  53  feet  in  diameter, 
and  with  a  spread  of  branches  sufficient  to  shelter 
100  men  on  horseback !  There  are  several,  trunks 
near  this  which  are  75  feet  in  circumference. 

2.  Chinquapin.  (C.  pumila,  Michx.) — This  ex- 
tends from  the  Delaware  throughout  the  South.  In 
this  State  it  is  known  from  the  seaboard  to  Cherokee, 
and  in  great  varieties  of  soil.  It  is  usually  a  shrub 
from  6  to  12  feet  high,  but  in  cool  fertile  situations  it 
is  sometimes  30  or  40,  and  12  or  18  inches  in  diame- 
ter. The  wood  is  finer  grained  than  the  Chestnut 
and  equally  durable;  but  the  stock  is  too  small  for 
extensive  use. 

There  is  a  distinct  variety  of  this  (var :  nana)  in 
our  poor  forests  with  slender  shoots  and  extensive 
runners,  bearing  fruit  at  the  height  of  a  foot. 

BEECH.  (Fagus  ferruginea.  Ait.) — Common 
throughout  the  United  States,  and  the  .only  species 
in  the  country.  It  is  a  very  handsome  tree,  though 
rarely  seen  in  cultivation.     In  the  Lower  District  of 


80       THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

the  State  it  occurs  rather  sparingly  and  of  no  great 
size.  In  the  Middle  District  it  is  more  common  and 
luxuriant ;  but  it  is  in  the  Mountains  that  it  is  found 
in  greatest  abundance  and  of  proper  dimensions,  be- 
ing there  from  50  to  80  and  even  100  feet  high,  with 
a  diameter  of  2  to  3  feet.  The  wood  is  compact 
and  tough,  and  of  very  uniform  texture,  by  which  it 
is  well  adapted  for  plane-stocks,  shoe-lasts,  and  the 
handles  of  mechanical  implements.  When  perfectly 
seasoned  it  is  not  liable  to  warp. "  It  is  easily  affected 
by  variations  of  moisture  and  dryness,  but  is  very 
durable,  when  kej)t  constantly  dry,  or  when  perma- 
nently immersed  in  water.  The  bark  is  sometimes 
used  for  tanning,  but  is  not  equal  to  that  of  Oak, 
The  nuts  are  a  fine  mast  for  hogs,  and  a  valuable  oil 
can  be  expressed  from  them. 

The  old  Saxon  word  for  Beech  is  BucJi  or  Buck, 
and  hence  our'  word  Buckwheat  (i.  e.  Beechwheat) 
from  the  similarity  of  their  triangular  fruit. 

BUCKEYES. — These  handsome  productions,  ad- 
mired both  for  their  foliage  and  blossoms,  as  well  as 
for  general  elegance  of  form,  are  of  the  same  genus 
with  the  Asiatic  Horse  Chestmit  {M.  Hippo castanum), 
so  much  prized  as  an  ornamental  tree  in  Europe  and 
parts  of  this  country.  The  leaves  are  what  is  called 
digitate;  i.  e.  the  leaflets  spread,  like  the  fingers 
of  a  hand,  from  the  end  of  a  common  leaf-stem,  a 
character  which  belongs  to  no  other  of  our  forest 
trees.     There  are  four  species  in  the  United  States, 


THE   TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  81 

of  which  two  are  native  witliin  our  limits.  Possibly 
a  third  species  (^JE.  parviflora)  exists  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  State  adjoining  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia. 

1.  Yellow  Buckeye,  (^sculus  flava,  Ait.) — 
More  abundant  in  the  Western  than  in  the  Atlantic 
States  ;  in  the  latter  it  is  not  found  north  of  Virginia. 
In  this  State  it  is  most  abundant  upon  the  sides  of 
our  high  mountains,  and  is  nowhere  of  larger  size. 
It  here  reaches  a  height  of  60  to  80  feet,  with  a 
diameter  of  3  to  4,  and  with  its  tapering  straight 
trunk  is  a  very  imposing  tree.  There  is  no  better 
indicator  than  this  of  a  deep,  rich,  fertile  soil.  The 
flowers  are  in  large  clusters,  yellow  (or  occasionally 
with  a  reddish  tinge),  and  very  showy.  In  the  Mid- 
dle District  this  species  is  found  along  streams  and  in 
river  bottoms  as  far  down  as  Orange,  but  is  here  a 
mere  shrub  3  to  6  feet  hiofh. 

2.  Red  Buckeye.  (^.  Pavia,  Linn.) — This  grows 
only  in  the  Southern  and  Western  States.  It  is  dis- 
tinguished by  its  dull  red  flowers,  and  is  what  is  chiefly 
known  in  our  Lower  and  Middle  Districts  under  the 
name  of  Buckeye.  It  is  usually  8  to  12  feet  high,  but 
sometimes  becomes  a  small  tree.  The  root  of  this 
species  is  sometimes  used  as  a  substitute  for  soap  in 
washing  woollen  cloths.  The  powdered  seeds  and 
bruised  branches,  if  thrown  into  small  ponds  and 
stirred  a  while,  will  so  intoxicate  fish  that  they  rise 
to  the  surface  and  may  be  taken  b}^  hand. 


82       THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

POD-BEAEING  TREES. 

The  next  Group  of  trees  is  that  whose  fruit  is  con- 
tained in  Pods,  or  seed-vessels,  which  are  longer  than 
broad,  like  those  of  the  Bean  and  Pea.  It  includes 
the  Locust^  Red  Bud,  etc. 

1.  Locust.  (Robinia  Pseudacacia,  Linn.) — Li  the 
Atlantic  States  this  well  known  ornamental  tree 
first  appears  in  southern  Pennsylvania,  and  extends 
thence  along  the  Alleghanies  to  their  southern  ter- 
minus. It  is  more  common  in  the  Western  States. 
In  North  Carolina  I  have  met  with  it  in  a  wild  state 
only  on  the  lower  ridges  of  the  mountains,  but  prob- 
ably it  is,  or  was,  native  for  some  distance  east  of 
the  Blue  Ridge.  The  w^ood  is  hard,  compact,  and 
takes  a  high  polish.  It  resists  decay  longer  than  al- 
most any  other,  and  hence  is  exceedingly  valuable 
for  posts  and  fences.  There  are  differences,  however, 
in  the  quality  of  the  trees  which  it  is  important  to 
keep  in  mind.  Those  with  a  7^ed  heart  are  deemed 
the  best;  those  with  ^greenish-yellow  heart^ihe  next; 
and  those  with  a  white  heart,  the  least  valuable.  In 
civil  architecture  the  timber  is  not  extensively  used 
in  buildings,  but  is  employed  for  railroad  ties  and 
sleepers,  whenever  it  can  be  had.  In  naval  archi- 
tecture it  is  used  to  as  great  an  extent  as  the  supply 
will  permit.  For  trunnels  (the  wooden  pins  that 
fasten  the  planks  to  the  frame  of  vessels)  it  is  of  the 
highest  value,  as,  instead  of  decaying,  it  grows  harder 
with  age.     The  wood  is  also  used  by  turners  instead 


THE   TPtEES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  83 

of  Box^  for  the  manufacture  of  small  articles,  such  as 
bowls,  salad  spoons,  etc.,  for  which  it  is  well  adapted 
by  its  hardness,  durability,  and  capability  of  polish. 

2.  Clammy  Locust.  (R.  viscosa.  Vent.) — A  very 
ornamental  tree,  smaller  than  the  foregoing  and 
much  less  known,  it  being  chiefly  confined  to  the 
southern  range  of  our  mountains  and  the  adjoining 
ones  in  South  Carolina  and  Georgia.  It  does  not 
exceed  40  feet  in  height.  The  young  branches  are 
covered  with  a  clammy  matter,  and  the  flowers  are 
of  a  beautiful  rose  color, — characters  which  will  al- 
ways distinguish  it  from  the  preceding.  The  wood 
is  similar. 

3.  Rose  Locust.  (R.  hispida,  Linn.)  —  A  well- 
known  ornamental  shrub  of  our  gardens,  (sometimes 
known  by  the  singular  misnomer  of  Rose  of  Sharofi,) 
with  large,  deep  rose  -  colored  blossoms,  bristly 
branches,  flower-stems,  and  pods.  It  is  indigenous 
to  the  rocky  summits  of  mountains  and  hills  in  the 
Upper  and  Middle  Districts ;  and  a  dwarf  variety,  in 
the  Pine  barrens  of  the  Lower. 

Honey  Locust.  (Gleditschia  triacanthos,  Linn.) 
—  Found  in  all  the  States  from  Pennsylvania  and 
Illinois  southward.  It  is  diffused  over  this  State, 
but  is  nowhere  very  abundant.  It  is  from  30  to  50 
feet  high,  and  2  or  3  feet  through.  The  heart  much 
resembles  that  of  Locust,  but  is  coarser,  and  the  pores 
are  quite  open  like  those  of  Ited  Oak.  It  is  there- 
fore used  only  wliere  other  material  cannot  be  con- 
veniently had.    The  large  pods,  12  or  18  inches  long, 


84       THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

contain  a  sweet  pulp  from  which  a  very  palatable 
beer  is  made.  This  thorny  tree  has  been  occasionally 
employed  for  hedges,  but,  in  all  the  cases  I  have 
seen,  without  success,  the  stocks  having  all  run  up 
into  trees,  possibly  from  not  having  been  kept  down 
by  persevering  attention  to  cutting  in. 

Red  Bud.  (Cercis  Canadensis,  Linn.) — Common 
over  the  United  States,  and  found  in  the  Lower  and 
Middle  Districts  of  this,  most  abundantly  in  the 
latter.  It  is  from  15  to  25  feet  high,  but  when  the 
main  stock  is  cut  generally  shoots  up  into  a  cluster 
of  shrubs.  As  it  blossoms  early,  before  the  develop- 
ment of  its  leaves,  and  is  covered  with  a  profusion 
of  bright  purplish-red  flowers,  it  is  a  very  striking 
object  in  the  forests  in  early  Spring. 

Catalpa.  (Catalpa  bignonioides,  Walt.) — This  is 
so  common  around  settlements  as  to  merit  a  passing 
notice,  though  it  is  nowhere  native  in  the  Atlantic 
States  north  of  the  Savannah  River.  Further  south, 
and  at  the  West,  it  is  not  an  uncommon  forest  tree 
near  rivers,  especially  those  that  empty  into, the 
Mississippi. 

Kentucky  Coffee  Tree.  (Gymnocladus  Cana- 
densis, Lam.)  —  A  native  of  the  Western  States,  but 
occasionally  cultivated  about  houses  as  a  handsome 
shade-tree  in  our  Middle  District,  and  spontaneously 
multiplying  from  the  seeds.  It  has  a  general  aspect 
like  that  of  Locust^  for  which  it  is  often  mistaken. 
The  pods  are  thick-shelled,  6  to  10  inches  long  and 
2  broad,  containing  seeds  i  inch  broad. 


THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  85 

FLAT-WINGED  FRUIT  TREES. 

The  next  Group  coinjDrises  trees  with  a  flat-winged- 
fruit,  as  the  Maple,  Ash,  and  Elm. 

MAPLES. — These  are  stately  and  beautifal  trees, 
as  much  prized  for  ornament  as  for  their  value  in 
art.  We  have  five  species  of  Maple,  all  that  are 
known  in  the  United  States,  two  of  which  are  mere 
shrubs. 

1.  Red  Maple.  (Acer  rubrum,  Linn.)  —  Well 
known  throughout  the  State,  being  found  in  swamps 
and  low  grounds  from  the  coast  to  the  mountains. 
It  is  among  the  first  trees  to  throw  out  its  blossoms 
in  early  spring,  (as  early  as  February  in  the  Lower 
District,)  and  with  its  bright  scarlet  flowers  then 
gives  a  peculiarly  pleasing  aspect  to  the  otherwise 
naked  forest.  In  autumn,  the  brilliant  crimson  of 
its  dying  foliage  again  makes  it  a  conspicuous  object, 
though  accompanied  by  others  which  vie  with  it  in 
contributing  to  the  splendor  of  our  autumnal  scen- 
ery. It  does  not  appear  to  be  so  large  here  as  farther 
north,  where  it  is  sometimes  70  feet  higli  and  3  to  4 
feet  through.  The  wood  is  of  close  and  fine  grain, 
and  susceptible  of  brilliant  polish.  It  is  extensively 
used  in  the  manufacture  of  chairs,  saddle-trees,  yokes, 
and  various  articles  of  wooden  ware.  It  is  not  suffi- 
ciently solid,  however,  for  heavy  work,  and  speedily 
decays  if  subjected  to  variations  of  heat  and  moist- 
ure.    When  the  grain  of  this  wood  has  a  winding 


86  THE    TPvEES    OF   XORTH   CAEOLINA. 

direction,  it  furnishes  the  material  called  Curly  Maple ^ 
which  is  much  used  for  cabinet  work  and  sometimes 
for  the  mouldings  of  houses.  Bedsteads  and  gun- 
stocks  of  much  beauty  are  made  of  it,  and  it  is  some- 
times employed  for  inlaying  mahogany.  The  varied 
effects  of  light  and  shade  upon  the  tortuous  veins 
can  be  much  enhanced  by  rubbing  with  sulphuric 
acid,  and  afterwards  with  linseed  oil.  The  bark  of 
this  tree  is  said  to  afford  a  dark  blue  dye,  and  a  good 
black"  ink.  The  sap  is  somewhat  saccharine,  but  is 
rarely  nsed  for  making  sugar.  Tliis  tree  in  some 
situations  has  yellowish  flowers  and  fruit,  and  is  then 
called  Yellow  Maple. 

2.  White  or  Silver  Maple.  (A.  dasycarpum, 
Ehrh.) — This  is  generally  confounded  with  the  fore- 
going, but  is  a  much  rarer  tree,  in  this  State.  I  do 
not  remember  to  have  seen  it  except  in  the  Moun- 
tains. It  is  30  to  50  feet  high  and  1  to  2  in  diame- 
ter ;  though  in  the  Western  States  sometimes  8  or  9 
feet  through.  The  top  is  more  spreading  than  in  the 
Red  Maple.  The  leaves  are  bright  green  above,  and 
of  a  silvery  whiteness  beneath,  which  gives  a  pleas- 
ing effect  to  their  play  in  the  sunlight,  and  helps  to 
render  the  tree  a  desirable  addition  to  ornamented 
grounds.  The  flowers  are  greenish-yellow,  and  the 
fruit  (woolly  when  young)  has  large  spreading 
wings.  The  Avood  is  very  white  and  fine  grained, 
but  much  softer  than  in  the  other  Maples;  and 
hence  is  little  used  in  cabinet  work  where  the  others 
can  be  had.     The  sap  is  sometimes  converted  into 


THE   TREES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  87 

sugar,  which  is  of  superior  whiteness  aud  flavor  to 
that  of  the  Sugar  Maple;  but  twice  the  quantity  of 
sap  is  required  to  give  an  equal  quantity  of  sugar. 

3.  Sugar  Maple.  (A.  saccharinum,  Wang.) — 
This  is  found  from  Canada  to  Georgia,  and  is  the 
most  interesting  and  valuable  of  our  Maples.  It  has 
a  height  of  50  to  80  feet,  a  diameter  of  2  to  3,  and 
a  very  symmetrical  oval  top  of  compact  branches, 
which  make  it  one  of  the  most  desirable  trees  for 
streets  and  avenues.  It  is  very  abundant  in  our 
mountains,  and  occurs  also  in  the  Middle  and  Lower 
Districts.  The  wood  is  wdiite  when  freshly  cut,  but 
becomes  of  a  faint  rosy  hue  on  exposure.  It  has  a 
fine  close  grain,  takes  a  fine  polish,  and  is  heavy  and 
strong.  It  is  not  as  durable  as  Oak,  and  is  not  much 
used  in  Civil  or  Naval  Architecture.  When  well 
seasoned,  it  serves  for  axles  and  spokes  of  wheels, 
chairs,  &c.  This  tree  produces  a  curled  variety  of 
wood  like  the  Red  3Iaj)le.  But  there  is  yet  another 
and  more  beautiful  variety,  called  Bird's  Eye^  which 
is  much  used  for  ornamental  wood  work.  The  wood 
makes  excellent  fuel.  The  ashes  abound  in  alkali, 
and  they  furnish  the  largest  part  of  the  potash 
shipped  from  Northern  ports. 

It  is  the  production  of  sugar  from  tlie  sap  of  this 
tree,  which  gives  it  its  highest  value.  In  some  of 
the  Northern  States,  particularly  in  Vermont,  it  is 
made  to  an  extent  that  constitutes  them  almost  as 
much  a  sugar  producing  country  as  Louisiana.  In 
our  Mountains,  which  are  too  remote  from  a  markiet 


88      THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

to  permit  any  effort  to  produce  this  article  in  suffi- 
cient quantity,  and  of  suitable  quality,  for  purposes 
of  commerce,  it  is  annually  made  to  some  extent  for 
home  use,  but  not  enough  for  the  "  sweetening " 
required  even  in  the  Mountains.  It  is  only  in  the 
colder  regions  that  the  tree  can  be  used  for  this  pur- 
pose. In  our  low  country  sugar  cannot  be  made 
from  it. 

4.  Striped  Maple.  (A.  Pennsylvanicum,  Linn.) 
— This  grows  in  the  colder  parts  of  the  country  from 
Canada  to  Georgia,  and  is  known  under  the  names, 
besides  the  one  already  given,  of  Mooseivood  and 
Striped  Dogwood.  In  North  Carolina  it  is  confined 
to  the  Mountains.  It  is  but  a  shrub,  rarely  over  10 
feet  high.  The  bark  is  smooth  and  green,  with 
longitudinal  dark  stripes,  which  distinguishes  it  at  all 
seasons,  and  makes  it  an  object  of  some  curiosity  and 
interest  in  shrubberies.  The  fruit  is  like  that  of 
other  Maples,  and  of  greenish  color. 

5.  Mountain  Maple.  (A.  spicatum.  Lam.) — 
This  has  nearly  the  same  range  in  the  country  with 
the  preceding  one.  In  this  State  it  is  found  only  in 
the  Mountains,  and  is  also  a  shrub  6  to  10  feet  high. 
From  its  insignificance  it  does  not  seem  to  have 
attracted  sufficient  attention  to  acquire  a  popular 
name;  but  is  known  farther  north  by  the  above,  and 
also  as  Loiv  Maple.  Europeans,  who  have  paid  far 
more  attention  than  ourselves  to  the  uses  and  capaci- 
ties of  our  forest  productions,  have  ascertained  that 
this  and   the    Striped   Maple    acquire    double    their 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.       89 

natural  size  when  engrafted  on  other  species  of 
Maple.  Its  leaves  and  fruit  have  the  common  charac- 
ters of  a  Maple,  the  latter  being  rather  small. 

Ash-leaved  Maple.  (Negundoaceroides,M(Bnch.) 
—  I  have  not  learned  the  name  by  which  this  is 
known  in  North  Carolina,  and  have  adopted  the  one 
very  appropriately  used  in  other  parts  of  the  United 
States.  In  the  Western  States,  where  it  is  more 
common,  it  is  called  Box  Elder.  In  South  Carolina 
I  have  heard  it  called  Stinking  Ash.  It  has  the 
leaves  of  an  Ash.,  and  the  fruit  of  a  3Iaple.  It  is  rare 
in  the  Lower  District,  but  is  common  on  the  borders 
of  streams  in  the  Middle  District  to  the  IMoun tains. 

Its  ordinary  height  is  from  15  to  25  feet,  a  rather 
handsome  tree,  of  light  green- branches  and  trunk, 
and  the  bark  of  rather  disagreeable  odor.  Tlie  wood, 
though  fine-grained,  is  not  much  used,  as  it  is  liable 
to  rapid  decay.  In  the  West  it  is  sometimes  em- 
ployed for  inlaying  furniture  made  of  mahogany  and 
cherry. 

ASHES. — This  is  a  genus  of  handsome  trees,  and 
next  to  the  Oaks,  furnishes  the  most  valuable  timber 
of  our  forests.  The  distinguishing  properties  of  the 
wood  are  strength  and  elasticity.  The  species  have 
a  great  similarity  of  general  aspect,  and  are  subject 
to  considerable  variation  in  different  soils,  so  that 
their  discrimination  requires  some  attention  and  ex- 
perience. In  this  State  they  are  all  called  simply 
Ash.)  without  any  discriminating  adjuncts,  and  I  have 


90  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

not  the  advantage  of  names,  therefore,  to  assist  me 
in  pointing  out  the  species.  None  of  them  are  very 
abundant. 

1.  Water  Ash.  (Fraxinus  platycarpa,  Michx.) 
— This  is  a  Southern  species,  peculiar  to  the  marshy 
borders  of  creeks  and  rivers  in  the  Lower  Districts, 
and  where,  so  far  as  I  have  learned,  there  is  no  other 
species.  It  is  the  only  one  in  the  State  in  which  the 
wings  of  the  fruit  extend  down  to  the  bottom  of  the 
seed,  and  is  sometimes  even  three-winged.  The  lo- 
cality and  the  fruit  will  therefore  readily  determine 
this  species.  The  tree  is  30  to  40  feet  high,  its  tim- 
ber probably  less  valuable  than  some  of  the  others, 
though  partaking  of  the  same  general  qualities. 

2.  Green  Ash.  (F.  viridis,  Michx.)  —  I  have 
seen  this  only  in  the  Middle  and  Upper  Districts, 
upon  the  banks  of  rivers.  The  fruit  is  gradually 
dilated  from  the  base- upward.  The  leaflets  (5  to  9) 
are  more  or  less  toothed,  smooth  and  green  on  both 
sides.  This  is  a  middle-sized  tree,  with  greenish 
branchlets.  The  timber  is  much  like  that  of  the 
others,  but  hardly  equal  to  White  Ash. 

3.  Red  Ash.  (F.  pubescens.  Lam.) — I  have  seen 
this  only  in  Lincoln,  but  it  is  doubtless  an  inhabitant 
of  rich  swampy  grounds  in  other  counties  of  the 
Middle  District.  It  is  50  to  60  feet  high,  the  under- 
side of  the  leaves,  and  also  the  young  shoots,  clothed 
with  a  thick  whitish  down,  which  changes,  in  the  Fall, 
to  a  reddish  tint,  from  whence  is  probably  derived 
its  common  name.      The  leaflets   (7  to   9)   are   but 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.       91 

slightly  notched.  The  fruit  is  very  much  like  that 
of  the  Green  Ash.  The  wood  is  redder  than  in  the 
White  Ash,  is  harder  and  less  elastic,  but  used  for 
the  same  purposes. 

4.  White  Ash.  (F.  Americana,  Linn.)— Diffused 
through  the  United  States.  With  us  it  is  not  very 
abundant,  but  occurs  along  streams  and  the  borders 
of  low  grounds  in  the  Middle  and  Upper  Districts. 
It  is  50  to  70  or  80  feet  high,  and  2  to  3  feet  through. 
It  has  a  straight  trunk,  with  grayish  furrowed  bark, 
and  smooth  bluish-gray  branchlets  and  shoots.  The 
leaflets,  in  Summer,  are  very  smooth,  of  a  light  green 
above  and  whitish  beneath,  very  slightly  toothed  on 
the  edges.  The  fruit  is  about  li  inch  long,  narrow, 
and  with  a  long  slender  base,  the  Aving  springing 
from  near  the  summit  of  the  seed.  The  heart-wood 
is  reddish,  and  is  considered  superior  to  the  other 
Ashes  in  strength  and  elasticity.  For  all  the  pur- 
poses which  require  these  properties,  it  is  employed 
by  carriage-makers,  wheelwrights,  shipwrights,  turn- 
ers, and  coopers.  There  are  but  few  trees  of  the 
American  forests  more  valuable  and  more  extensively 
used  than  this.  It  is  withal  a  very  showy  tree  in 
private  grounds. 

ELMS.— A  genus  of  trees  too  well  known  to  need 
a  particular  specification  of  their  characters.  The 
fruit  is  small,  flat,  and  with  a  thin  wino-ed  maririn. 

1.  Elm.  (Ulmus  Americana,  Linn.)  —  This  mag- 
nificent shade  tree  is  well  known  throughout  the 


92  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

country.  In  the  most  favorable  situations  with  us, 
it  is  not  often  seen  above  60  or  70  feet  high ;  but  in 
some  sections,  as  in  the  Middle  States,  it  reaches  the 
height  of  100  feet,  and  a  diameter  of  4  or  5  feet. 
The  timber  of  this  tree  is  not  in  much  demand,  but 
is  occasionally  used  by  wheelwrights  for  the  naves 
of  wheels,  where  other  material  cannot  be  obtained. 

There  is  a  difference  in  the  spread  of  this  tree,  the 
form  with  drooping  branches  being  much  more  grace- 
ful and  showy  than  the  one  with  more  erect  branches. 
It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  this  is  generally  so 
crowded  in  our  streets  as  to  prevent  its  attaining  its 
widest  spread,  and  its  most  natural  and  attractive 
form. 

2.  Small-Leaved  Elm.  (U.  alata,  Michx.) — Gen- 
erally known  in  this  State  by  this  name,  but  more 
commonly  known  elsewhere,  perhaps,  as  Wahoo.  It 
is  not  uncommon  with  us,  except  on  the  higher 
mountains.  Its  Northern  limit  is  in  lower  Virginia. 
It  is  only  30  to  45  feet  high,  not  only  smaller,  but  of 
much  less  graceful  form  than  the  preceding,  though 
often  seen  as  a  shade  tree  in  our  streets.  It  is  readily 
distinguished  by  its  much  smaller  leaves,  and  by  the 
corky  excrescences  which,  as  in  the  Sweet  Gum^ 
wing  the  smaller  branches. 

The  wood  is  more  compact  and  finer  grained  than 
in  the  former  species,  and  is  used  for  the  naves  of 
wheels,  for  which  some  prefer  it  to  Black  Gum. 

A  variety  of  this  occurs,  in  which  the  excrescences 
are  wanting,   and   the  branches    more    slender  and 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.       93 

flowing.     The  small  leaves,  however,  determine  the 
species. 

3.  Slippery  Elm.  (U.  fulva,  Michx.)— Widely 
diffused  over  North  America,  but  in  no  localities  so 
abundant  as  either  of  the  preceding.  It  is  occasion- 
ally met  w^ith  in  our  Lower  District,  but  more  fre- 
quently in  the  Middle,  and  to  some  extent  in  the 
Upper.  It  is  from  30  to  50  feet  high,  and  12  to  18 
inches  through.  The  wood  is  coarser  than  that  of 
the  other  species,  but  is  stronger  and  more  durable, 
when  exposed  to  the  weather,  than  the  common  Elm, 
and  is  sometimes  used  in  the  Western  States  in  build- 
ings and  vessels.  For  ship  blocks  it  is  said  to  be  of 
the  highest  value.  As  the  trunk  splits  well,  it  is 
convenient  for  the  making  of  rails,  which  are  very 
durable.  The  inner  bark  of  this  tree,  es]3ecially  of 
the  branches,  contains  a  large  amount  of  mucilage 
which  is  serviceable  in  colds  and  bronchial  affections, 
and  for  emollient  plasters. 


TREES  BEARING  FLESHY  FRUIT. 

The  next  Group  comprises  those  trees  which  have 
a  fruit  more  or  less  fleshy^  whether  sto7ie  fruit  like 
Plums  and  Cherries,  or  those  which  contain  seeds 
like  the  Crab  Apple,  and  those  smaller  forms  which 
would  popularly  be  called  Berries. 

1.  Red  Plum.  (Prunus  Americana,  Marsli.) — A 
small  tree  or  shrub  not  uncommon  from  Canada  to 


94       THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

Louisiana ;  and  in  this  State  from  the  coast  to  Chero- 
kee, especially  in  the  Upper  District,  along  streams 
and  on  the  border  of  woods.  The  leaves  are  quite 
veiny  and  coarsely  toothed.  The  fruit  is  red,  orange 
or  yellow,  with  a  rather  tough  skin,  generally  acerb 
and  uneatable,  but  occasionally  of  good  flavor  and 
then  makes  an  excellent  preserve.  Some  very  good 
varieties  have  been  produced  by  cultivation. 

2.  Chickasaw  Plum.  (P.  Chicasa,  Michx.) — A 
shrub  very  common  in  old  fields  and  about  settle- 
ments throughout  the  State,  sometimes  becoming  a 
small  tree.  It  has  every  appearance  of  being  ^n 
introduced  plant,  and  it  was  a  tradition  of  the 
Indians  tliat  they  brought  this  fruit  from  beyond  the 
Mississippi,  where  it  is  now  known  to  be  indigenous. 
The  leaves  are  smooth,  not  very  veiny,  and  finely 
toothed.  The  fruit  varies  very  much  both  in  color 
and  flavor,  but  generally  quite  pleasant,  and  is 
much  improved  by  cultivation. 

3.  Sloe.  (P.  spinosa,  Linn.?) — I  have  seen  this 
only  in  Lincoln  County,  where  it  was  pointed  out  to 
me  by  Dr.  Hunter,  and  called  by  the  above  name. 
As  I  have  no  notes  upon  this  small  tree,  I  am  now  in 
uncertainty  whether  it  be  identical  with  the  English 
Sloe  or  Blackthorn^  which  is  naturalized  in  some 
parts  of  the  country,  and  is  considered  by  the  best 
Botanists  to  be  the  parent  of  the  common  cultivated 
Plum  (P.  domestica,  Linn.). 

4.  Wild  Cherry.  (P.  serotina,  Ehrh.) — This 
ranks    among   the   largest   and   finest   trees   of   the 


THE   TEEES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  95 

American  forest,  and  is  very  widely  diffused  through 
the  United  States.  In  this  State  it  is  found  through 
all  the  Districts,  but  is  less  common  in  the  Lower, 
where  the  soil  and  climate  are  not  so  favorable  to  its 
growth.  It  is  on  the  rich  and  cool  declivities  of  our 
mountains  that  it  acquires  its  full  dimensions  and 
attains  a  height  of  60  to  80  feet,  and  a  diameter  of  2 
to  3  feet.  The  smooth  straight  shaft,  symmetrical 
summit,  bright  green  leaves  and  profuse  spikes  of 
white  flowers,  give  it  a  character  of  much  beauty. 
The  fruit  is  nearly  black  (from  which  the  tree  is 
often  called  Black  Cherry)^  slightly  bitter,  but  with 
a  pleasant  vinous  flavor,  and  was  formerly  much  used 
as  a  cordial  in  spiritous  infusion.  The  wood  is  of  a 
light  red  tint  which  deepens  wdth  age,  is  compact 
and  fine  grained,  and  not  liable  to  Avarp  when  prop- 
erly seasoned.  If  selected  from  the  part  of  the 
trunk  near  the  branches,  it  is  almost  equal  to  Mahog- 
any in  appearance.  It  was  once  extensively  used  in 
nearly  all  kinds  of  cabinet  Avork,  but  has  been  pretty 
much  superseded  by  Mahogany  and  Rosewood.  The 
bark  of  this  tree  is  a  valuable  tonic,  and  forms  the 
basis  of  some  quack  medicines. 

5.  Wild  Red  Cherry.  (P.  Pennsylvanica,  Linn.) 
— Chiefly  found  at  the  North,  but  within  our  limits 
grows  sparingly  upon  Black,  Grandfather,  and  a  few 
others  of  our  highest  mountains.  I  have  but  once 
heard  it  designated  by  au}^  distinctive  name,  viz., 
Macnoly^  which  may  possibly  be  a  corruption  of 
Magnolia^   and  so  a  misapplication.     It  is  20  to  30 


96       THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

feet  high.  The  flowers  grow  in  clusters  from  lat- 
eral buds,  and  not  in  racemes  from  the  end  of  the 
branchlets,  as  in  the  preceding.  The  fruit  is  small 
and  red,  with  a  thin,  sour  flesh.  The  bark  of  the 
trunk  is  a  light  red.  The  wood  is  reddish  and  fine- 
grained, but  the  tree  is  too  small  to  admit  of  much 
use. 

6.  Mock  Orange.  (P.  Caroliniana,  Ait.)  —  This 
much  admired  species  is  confined  to  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  Ocean,  and  is  not  native,  I  think,  much, 
if  any,  north  of  the  Cape  Fear.  From  thence  south- 
ward it  is  rather  common  along  the  Atlantic  and 
Gulf  coasts.  It  is  20  to  30  feet  high,  in  proper  soil 
farther  south  becoming  40  to  50,  with  thick  oval 
summit,  clothed  with  evergreen  leaves  and  casting  a 
deep  shade.  The  racemes  of  white  flowers  (growing 
from  the  fork  of  the  leaves)  are  numerous  and  showy. 
The  fruit  is  black,  globular,  not  eatable,  and  remains 
all  Winter  on  the  tree.  The  wood  is  rose-colored  and 
fine-grained,  rather  brittle,  I  think,  but  is  not  abun- 
dant enough  to  be  of  use  in  the  arts,  and  is  not  supe- 
rior to  others  more  easily  obtained.  The  chief  value 
of  the  tree  is  as  an  ornament,  for  which  it  is  very 
extensively  cultivated  about  houses,  either  singly  or 
as  borders  and  hedges  to  private  grounds  throughout 
the  Lower  Districts  of  the  Southern  States,  thriving 
very  well  in  sandy  soils. 

Devil  Wood.  (Olea  Americana,  Linn.)  —  This 
has  about  the  same  range  with  the  Live  Oak^  and, 
like  that,  is  found  but  a  short  distance  from  the  coast. 


THE  TREES  OF  NOETH  CAKOLINA.       97 

I  am  not  informed  of  any  popular  name  by  which  it 
is  designated  in  this  State,  and  have  above  given  the 
one  appropriated  to  it  farther  south.  As  it  is  an 
Olive,  it  might  properly  be  called  American  Olive, 
It  is  commonly  about  10  to  15  feet  high,  but  is  some- 
times 30  and  more.  The  leaves  are  evergreen,  entire, 
thick  and  very  smooth,  and  give  the  tree  a  very 
pleasing  aspect.  The  fruit  is  rather  larger  than  a 
buckshot,  of  a  bluish-purple  color,  presenting  a  pleas- 
ant contrast  to  the  foliage.  The  flesh  is  rather  thin 
over  a  hard  stone,  and  not  eatable.  The  bark  is  of 
a  whitish  green.  The  wood  has  a  fine  grain,  and 
when  dry  is  exceedingly  hard,  and  very  difficult  to 
cut  or  split,  which  may  furnish  a  clue,  perhaps,  to 
the  origin  of  its  name.  Tliis  tree  is  well  worthy  of 
culture.  I  have  seen  it  in  private  grounds  under  the 
name  of  Dahoon  Holly  ;  but  the  latter  is  a  very  dif- 
ferent thing,  being  a  true  Holly  or  Ilex. 

The  remainder  of  this  Group,  with  the  exception 
of  the  Crab  Apple  and  Persimmon,  have  fruit  which 
would  popularly  be  called  Berries,  and  I  therefore 
bring  them  together,  though  the  first  eiyU  succeed- 
ing genera  would  not  be  so  called  by  Botanists. 

1.  Holly.  (Ilex  opaca,  Ait.)— Common  south  of 
New  York,  and  well  known  through  the  whole  of  our 
State.  It  is  30  to  40  jfeet  high,  and  12  to  15  inches 
in  diameter.  The  wood  is  heavy,  with  a  fine,  com- 
pact grain,  and  takes  a  brilliant  polish.  When  dry 
it  is  very  hard,  anci  serves  well  for  pulleys,  screws, 


98       THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

etc.  The  black  lines  inlaid  in  mahogany  furniture 
are  often  the  dyed  wood  of  this  tree,  intended  to 
simulate  ebony.  The  berries  are  purgative,  and  15 
or  20  of  them  will  produce  vomiting.  The  fine  form 
of  this  tree,  with  its  evergreen  leaves  and  scarlet  ber- 
ries, gives  it  much  beauty,  especially  in  Winter ;  but 
it  is  said  to  be  less  attractive  than  the  European 
Holly.  For  avenues  and  hedgerows  we  have  few 
trees  superior  to  it. 

2.  Dahoon  Holly.  (I.  Dahoon,  Walt.") — A  shrub 
or  small  tree  from  6  to  25  feet  high,  growing  on  the 
borders  of  the  Pine-barren  ponds  and  sAvamps  of  our 
Low  Country,  from  Virginia  to  Florida.  The  leaves 
are  1  to  2  inches  long,  ^  to  i  inch  wide,  entire,  or 
with  a  few  sharp  teeth  near  the  upper  end,  evergreen. 
The  berries  are  red,  as  in  the  Holly  and  Yopon,  and 
the  plant  is  well  worthy  of  cultivation. 

3.  Yopon.  (I.  Cassine,  Linn.) — An  elegant  shrub, 
10  to  15  feet  high,  but  sometimes  rising  into  a  small 
tree  of  20  to  25  feet.  Its  native  place  is  near  salt 
water,  and  it  is  found  from  Virginia  southward,  but 
never  far  in  the  interior.  Its  dark  evergreen  leaves 
and  bright  red  berries  make  it  very  ornamental  in 
yards  and  shrubberies.  The  leaves  are  small,  i  to  1 
inch  long,  very  smooth,  and  evenly  scalloped  on  the 
edges  Avith  small  rounded  teeth.  In  some  sections 
of  the  Lower  District,  especially  in  the  region  of  the 
Dismal  Swamp,  these  are  annually  dried  and  used 
for  tea,  which  is,  however,  oppressively  sudorific, — 
at  least  to  one  not  accustomed  to  it.     The  Mate,  or 


THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  99 

Paraguay  Tea,  of  South  America,  is  of  the  same 
genus  as  this,  (the  I.  Paraguayensis,)  but  a  very  dif- 
ferent species.  Our  Yopon  is  the  article  from  which 
the  famous  Black  Drink  of  the  Southern  Indians  was 
made.  "At  a  certain  time  of  the  year  they  come 
down  in  droves  from  a  distance  of  some  hundred 
miles  to  the  coast  for  the  leaves  of  this  tree.  They 
make  a  fire  on  the  ground,  and  putting  a  great  kettle 
of  water  on  it,  they  throw  in  a  large  quantity  of 
these  leaves,  and  setting  themselves  around  the  fire, 
from  a  bowl  that  holds  about  a  pint  they  begin 
drinking  large  draughts,  which  in  a  short  time  occa- 
sions them  to  vomit  freely  and  easily.  Thus  they 
continue  drinking  and  vomiting  for  the  space  of  two 
or  three  days,  until  they  have  sufficiently  cleansed 
themselves ;  and  then  every  one  taking  a  bundle  of 
the  tree,  they  all  retire  to  their  habitations." 

4.  (I.  decidua,  Walt.) — This  and  the  next  three 
have  deciduous  leaves,  and  have  not  been  honored  in 
this  State,  as  far  as  I  know,  with  popular  names. 
This  is  common  along  shaded  ravines  and  branches 
throughout  the  Middle  District,  and  is  from  6  to  15 
feet  high.  The  leaves  are  1  to  2  inches  long,  with 
rounded  teeth  on  the  edges,  narrow  and  tapering 
down  into  a  short  stem,  somewhat  hairy  on  the  veins 
of  the  underside,  otherwise  smooth.  Berries  red,  in 
clusters,  each  containing  4  to  6  bony  seeds,  that  are 
ribbed  on  the  back. 

5.  (I.  ambigua,  Chapm.) — A  shrub  or  small  tree 
confined  to  our  mountain  region  in  this  State,  though 


100  THE   TEEES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

found  elsewhere  to  the  North  and  South,  and  from  8 
to  20  feet  high.  The  leaves  are  3  to  5  and  sometimes 
6  inches  long,  about  half  as  broad,  with  fine  sharp 
teeth  on  the  edges,  smooth  on  both  sides,  and  taper- 
ing at  the  upper  end.  The  berries  are  red,  not  in 
clusters,  and  with  seeds  as  in  No.  4. 

6.  (I.  verticillata,  Gray.) — This  occurs  in  all  the 
Districts,  and  in  various  soils,  2  to  10  feet  high,  and  has 
clusters  of  bright  scarlet  berries  which  hang  on  through 
the  Winter.  In  some  States  it  is  called  Winterherry. 
The  leaves  are  about  2  inches  long,  of  varying  width, 
but  generally  broader  toward  the  upper  end,  coarselj^ 
toothed,  paler  and  somewhat  downy  on  the  underside. 
The  seeds  are  smooth  and  even.  A  decoction  of  the 
bark  is  a  popular  application  to  old  sores. 

T.  Gallberry.  (I.  glabra,  Gray.) — This  and  the 
next  species  are  evergreen  shrubs,  indiscriminately 
called  by  the  above  name,  sometimes  Galls,  more 
rarely  LMerries,  names  apparently  derived  from 
their  black  bitter  berries.  This  is  from  3  to  5  feet 
high,  very  ^common  in  the  Branch  sw^amps  of  the 
Lower  District,  and  giving  its  name  of  Galls  or  Gall- 
bays  to  the  low  places  chiefly  occupied  by  it.  The 
leaves  are  very  smooth  and  green,  sparingly  toothed, 
1  to  li  inch  long,  and  about  half  that  Avidth. 

8.  Tall  Gallberey.  (I.  coriacea,  Chapm.) — 
This  grows  in  similar  situations  with  the  preceding, 
having  the  same  habit  and  appearance,  but  full 
twice  as  large,  the  leaves  also  much  larger,  and  either 
entire  or  with  scattered  sharp  teeth. 


THE   TREES    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA.  lOl 

1.  Dogwood.  (Cornus  florida,  Linn.) — Common 
tliroiighoiit  the  United  States,  and  mostly  known  by 
this  name,  but  sometimes  called  Boxwood.  From  the 
showiness  of  its  flowers,  and  the  value  of  its  wood 
and  bark,  it  possesses  considerable  interest.  Its 
usual  height  is  from  12  to  20  feet,  but  is  sometimes 

30   and   35.     The   wood  ._is heavy,   hard,  and    fine 

grained,  and  takes  a  fine  polish.  Pieces  cannot  be 
had  of  sufficient  size  for  large  work;  but  for  the 
smaller  sorts  of  mechanical  and  agricultural  imple- 
ments, such  as  cogs  of  mill  wheels,  harrow  teeth, 
mallets,  wedges,  hames,  etc.,  the  well  seasoned  wood 
is  well  adapted  and  much  used.  The  young  shoots 
are  used  for  light  hoops.  The  inner  bark  is  an  excel- 
lent substitute  for  Peruvian  Bark  in  intermittent 
fevers.  The  fresh  article  is  apt  to  produce  pain, 
which  can  be  prevented,  however,  by  mixing  it  with 
Virginia  Snake  Root.  After  being  dried  for  a  year, 
this  precaution  is  unnecessary.  A  very  good  Ink 
can  be  made  of  this  bark  in  place  of  Galls.  A  pretty 
variety  of  this  tree  with  reddish  flowers  is  occasion- 
ally met  with. 

2.  Swamp  Dogwood.  (C.  sericea,  Linn-) — This 
and  the  remaining  species  of  the  genus  are  only 
shrubs,  but  are  placed  here  for  the  purpose  of  having 
all  the  species  of  a  genus  together,  as  I  liave  done  in 
other  genera.  With  the  exception  of  the  last  species, 
they  all  have  their  leaves  opposite^  as  in  the  Dogwood. 
This  is  the  only  one  of  them  which  has  received 
notice  enough  in  this  State,  so  far  as  I  have  discov- 


102  THE   TREES    OF    XORTII   CAROLIXA. 

erecl,  to  get  a  name.  It  is  found  in  low  woods  in  tlie 
Middle  and  Upper  Districts,  has  purplish  branches, 
is  from  6  to  10  feet  high,  and  having  rather  broad, 
pointed  leaves,  which  are  smooth  above  and  with  a 
silky  down  beneath.  The  flowers  are  white,  in  flat- 
topped  clusters,  succeeded  by  pale-blue  berries. 

3.  (C.  stricta,  Linn.) — This  is  6  to  15  feet  high, 
with  brownish  or  reddish  branches,  found  only  in  the 
wet  lands  of  the  Lower  District.  The  leaves  are 
about  3  inches  long  and  1  inch  wide,  tapering  to  a 
point  at  the  upper  end,  the  edges  slightly  uneven, 
smooth  on  both  sides,  paler  and  with  prominent 
veins  on  the  underside.  The  flowers  and  pale-blue 
berries  are  much  as  in  No.  2. 

4.  (C.  paniculata,  L'Her.) — A  branching  shrub,  4 
to  8  feet  high,  with  gray  branches,  found  in  this 
State  onl}^  in  our  mountain  counties.  The  leaves 
are  only  2  to  3  inches  long,  with  a  tapering  point, 
smooth,  whitish  on  the  underside.  The  white  flow- 
ers are  in  longer  and  looser  clusters  than  in  the  two 
preceding,  and  the  berries  white. 

5.  (C.  alternifolia,  L'Her.) — I  have  met  with  this 
only  on  the  higher  mountains.  It  is  the  only  one  of 
this  genus  of  Cornels — this  being  the  common  name 
of  the  shrubby  Dogwoods — which  has  the  leaves 
alternating  on  the  branches,  instead  of  being  oppo- 
site to  each  other  in  pairs.  It  is  10  to  15  and  20  feet 
high,  the  branches  also  alternate,  greenish,  streaked 
with  white.  The  leaves  are  about  3  inches  long, 
hoary  and  slightly  hairy  beneath,  and  pointed  at  the 


THE   TllEES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  103 

end.  The  flowers  are  whitisli,  in  a  loose  flat  topped 
cluster ;  the  berries  dark  blue  or  bluish  black. 

Hackberry.  (Celtis  occidentalis,  Linn.) — Com- 
mon over  the  United  States,  sometimes  called  Nettle 
Tree^  and  scatteringly  found  in  all  parts  of  North 
Carolina.  It  is  occasionally  seen  as  a  shade  tree  in 
our  streets,  and  is  admired  by  some  for  its  dark  green 
foliage,  deep  shade  and  rather  graceful  branches. 
The  bark  of  the  trunk  and  larger  branches  is  rough- 
ened by  small,  ridged  excrescences.  The  leaves  are 
about  2  inches  long,  and  rather  peculiar  in  having 
one  side  perceptibly  smaller  than  the  other.  The 
berries  are  about  4  or  J  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  of  a 
mahogany  color,  with  a  sweetish  but  thin  flesh, 
enclosing  a  globular  nut.  This  tree  is  from  50  to  70 
feet  high,  and  18  to  20  inches  in  diameter.  The 
wood  does  not  appear  to  be  used  for  any  important 
purpose. 

There  is  a  shrubby  form  of  this  (var  :  pumila) 
occasionally  met  with  in  the  Lower  and  Middle  Dis- 
tricts, 3  to  10  feet  high,  and  with  smaller,  thinner 
leaves,  but  easily  recognized  by  those  who  are  famil- 
iar with  the  larger  form. 

1.  Black  Gum.  (Nyssa  aquatica,  Linn.) — Com- 
mon in  swamps  and  shallow  ponds  of  the  Lower  and 
Middle  Districts,  often  called  Sour  Gum  or  Gum 
Tree.  It  is  from  30  to  45  feet  high,  12  to  18  inches 
in  diameter.  The  leaves  are  1  to  2  inches  long,  of  a 
dark  green  and  shining  above,  and  somewliat  downy 
underneath  when  young.     The  fruit  is  commonly  in 


104  THE    TREES    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

pairs,  of  a  dark  blue  color,  borne  on  a  common  stem 
from  i  to  1  inch  long.  The  \yooc1  of  this  tree  has  its 
fibres  so  interwoven  in  various  directions  as  to  make 
it  nearly  impossible  to  be  split,  and  it  is  therefore 
used  (especially  the  yellow  variety,  known  as  the 
Yellow  Gum)  for  the  hubs  of  wheels.  It  is  also 
employed  for  making  hatters'  blocks,  the  cogged 
cylinders  in  mills  for  beating  rice,  and  for  caps  to 
masts.  The  roots  are  in  domestic  use  for  large 
corks,  for  which,  on  account  of  their  compressibility 
and  lightness,  they  answer  very  well.  The  crimson 
hue  of  the  foliage,  after  frost,  of  this  and  the  next 
species,  contributes  much,  with  that  of  the  Red 
Maple^  Sassafras^  etc.,  to  give  that  peculiar  brilliancy 
to  our  autumnal  scenery  so  often  noticed  by  for- 
eigners. 

2.  (N.  multiflora,  Wang.) — With  us  this  tree 
seems  to  be  entirely  confounded  with  the  preceding, 
and  is  also  called  Black  or  Sour  Gum,  In  some  of 
the  States  it  is  also  called  Tupelo  or  Pepijeridge. 
This  tree,  however,  grows  mostly  in  the  uplands  in 
rich,  generally  moist,  soils,  and  is  larger  every  way. 
It  is  from  30  to  60  feet  liigli,  and  1  to  2  feet  in  diame- 
ter. The  leaves  are  2  to  6  inches  long,  with  a  white 
down  underneath,  especially  when  young,  rather 
thick,  and  shining.  The  berry  is  about  \  inch  long. 
The  wood  is  like  that  of  No.  1. 

3.  Cotton  Gum.  (N.  uniflora,  Walt.) — This  is  a 
Southern  tree,  having  its  Northern  limit  in  South- 
eastern Virginia,  and  confined  to  the  deep  swamps  of 


THE   TREES    OF   NOllTH    CAKOLINA.  105 

the  Lower  Districts.  It  is  GO  to  80  feet  high.  The 
leaves  are  5  to  8  inches  long,  with  a  few  large  teeth 
on  the  edges,  and  a  soft  whitish  clown  underneath. 
The  fruit  is  an  inch  or  more  long,  and  of  a  deep  blue 
color.  The  Avood  is  like  that  of  the  two  preceding, 
but  is  softer,  and  is  indeed  the  softest  wood  we  have. 
As  it  does  not  split  and  is  very  easily  worked,  it  is 
manufactured  into  light  bowls  and  trays.  The  roots 
are  used  for  making  floats  to  buoy  seines,  and  are  a 
very  fair  substitute  for  cork  where  elasticity  is  not 
important. 

Sassafras.  (Sassafras  officinale,  Nees.) — No 
plant  in  the  United  States  is  perhaps  more  exten- 
sively diffused  than  this.  In  favorable  soils  it  is  40 
to  50  feet  high,  while  in  poor  ground  and  in  the  bor- 
ders of  old  fields  it  flowers  at  the  height  of  4  to  6 
feet.  It  is  common  in  the  Lower  and  Middle  Dis- 
tricts, but  is  rare  in  the  more  elevated  parts  of 
the  Upper.  It  is  found  of  largest  dimensions  in 
the  Middle  District.  What  is  known  as  the  White 
Sassafras  prevails  in  the  Lower  District,  the  Med 
Sassafras  in  the  others,  their  differences  depending 
apparently  upon  a  difference  of  soil.  The  wood  is 
said  to  be  durable,  and  is  used  for  fence  posts  as 
well  as  for  the  rafters  and  joists  of  buildings.  It  is 
said  also  to  be  free  from  attacks  of  worms,  and  that 
bedsteads  made  of  it  are  never  infested  by  insects. 
The  roots,  and  also  the  flowers,  are  the  basis  of  some 
diet  drinks  which  are  thought  by  some  to  be  service- 
able to  the  Imman  system  in  Spring  and  Summer. 


106  THE   TREES    OF   NOETH   CAROLINA. 

The  reputed  virtues  of  the  root  caused  it  to  become 
one  of  the  first  of  our  native  products  introduced 
into  Europe,  and  ship  loads  were  carried  thither  in 
the  earlier  settlement  of  this  country.  The  bark  of 
the  root  is  a  powerful  aromatic  stimulant,  and  has 
been  used  in  medicine  more  than  200  years.  The 
young  buds  and  ends  of  branches  contain  a  good  deal 
of  mucilage,  and  are  sometimes  used  as  a  substitute 
for  Okra  in  soups, — where  the  latter  cannot  be  had. 
Red  Bay.  (Persea  Carolinensis,  Nees.) — This 
extends  from  Virginia  through  the  Lower  Districts 
of  the  Southern  States  to  Louisiana,  appearing  to  be 
confined  to  the  branch  swamps  within  the  range  of 
the  Long-leaved  Pine.  It  is  a  small  tree  or  shrub 
here,  but  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Gulf  it  reaches  a 
height  50  and  70  feet.  The  evergreen  leaves  are  2 
to  4  inches  long,  1  or  more  wide,  smooth  and  green 
above,  pale  beneath.  The  shrubby  form  has  the 
leaves  larger  and  the  underside  clothed  with  a  gray 
down.  They  have  a  strong  aromatic  odor  very  like 
that  of  the  European  Laurel  and  may  be  used  in  the 
same  manner  in  cookery  and  medicine.  An  aromatic 
distillation  like  the  Bay  Rum  of  the  West  Indies 
could  doubtless  be  obtained  from  them.  The  wood 
is  of  a  beautiful  rose  color,  strong  and  durable,  with 
a  very  fine  compact  grain,  and  is  susceptible  of  a 
brilliant  polish.  Before  Mahogany  came  into  such 
extensive  use,  articles  of  furniture  of  great  beauty 
were  made  from  it  at  the  South,  the  best  having  the 
appearance  of  watered  satin,  and  they  are  still  found 


THE   TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  107 

ill  the  houses  of  some  of  the  older  families  of  the 
country.  I  have  heard  of  a  single  log  in  Florida 
sawed  into  veneering  and  sold  for  1400.  In  this 
State  it  is  seldom  found  of  sufficient  size  for  any 
very  important  uses. 

Palmetto.  (Sabal  Palmetto,  R.  &  S.) — Cape 
Hatteras  is,  or  was,  the  northern  limit  of  this  Palm, 
from  whence  southward  it  becomes  more  abundant 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  Ocean.  This  is  the  only  repre- 
sentative in  the  United  States  of  a  large  and  remark- 
able class  of  trees  mostly  confined  to  the  Torrid  Zone. 
A  trunk  40  or  50  feet  in  height,  of  uniform  diameter, 
with  a  tufted  summit  of  large  brilliant  green,  fan- 
shaped  leaves,  and  so  wholly  different  in  structure 
and  aspect  from  all  our  other  forest  trees,  is  a  very 
noticeable  and  attractive  object  on  our  coast. 

The  trunk  of  this  tree  is  of  great  value  in  the  con- 
struction of  Avharves,  as  they  are  not  subject  to 
injury  from  sea-worms.  They  have  been  found  ser- 
viceable in  structures  for  defence,  since  balls  pass 
with  difficulty  through  the  w^ood  as  through  cork, 
and  the  w^ood  closes  upon  the  perforation  instead  of 
splitting.  The  rarity  of  the  tree  in  this  State  ren- 
ders it  of  little  economical  importance  here.  It  is  to 
be  deeply  regretted,  however,  that  a  reckless  indiffer- 
ence to  the  future,  which  has  been  charged  as  a  char- 
acteristic of  Americans,  is  likely  to  efface,  at  no  very 
distant  time,  every  vestige  of  this  interesting  orna- 
ment of  our  coast.  The  inner  portion  of  the  young 
plant  is  very  tender  and  palatable,  somewhat  resem- 


108  THE   TREES    OF   KORTH   CAHOLINA. 

bling  tlie  Artichoke  and  Cabbage  in  taste  (lience  its 
name  of  Cahhage  Tree)^  and  is  often  taken  for  pick- 
ling, and  the  stock  is  ruined  by  the  process.  Thus 
for  a  pound  or  two  of  pickles,  no  better  either  than 
man}^  other  kinds,  the  growth  of  half  a  century  is 
destroyed  in  a  moment,  and  posterity  left  to  the 
wretched  inheritance  of  vain  mourning  for  the  loss 
of  the  greatest  beauty  of  our  maritime  forest. 

2.  DwAEF  Palmetto.  (S.  Adansonii,  Guerns.) 
^ — This  is  but  3  or  4  feet  high,  never  forming  a  trunk 
like  the  preceding,  and  found  only  in  the  Lower  Dis- 
trict. The  leaves  of  both  these  species  are  employed 
in  the  manufacture  of  palm-leaf  hats. 

Peide  of  India,  or  China  Tree.  (Melia  Azed- 
arach,  Linn.) — Is  a  common  shade  tree  of  streets  and 
yards  in  the  Lower  District,  and  occasionally  is  seen 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  Middle  District.  It  is  quite 
naturalized  in  the  former  region,  to  which  it  is  well 
adapted  by  its  free  growth  in  sandy  soil.  It  is  from 
25  to  40  feet  high,  with  a  spreading  top,  and  its  dark 
green  compound  leaves  and  large  loose  clusters  of 
fragrant  lilac-colored  flowers  make  it  quite  ornamen- 
tal. The  timber  is  of  a  reddish  hue,  and  said  to  be 
strong  and  durable  ;  but  is  seldom  used.  The  leaves 
pounded  and  mixed  with  lard  constitute  a  Persian 
remedy  for  a  cutaneous  disease,  better  treated,  per- 
haps, with  sulphur.  The  berries  are  reputed  poison- 
ous, as  well  as  most  other  portions  of  the  tree. 
Robins  feeding  upon  them  in  the  Spring  are  so 
stupefied  as  to  be  easily  caught. 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.      109 

Buckthorn.  (Bumelia  lycioides,  Gsert.) — A  small 
tree  from  15  to  25  feet  high,  found  from  North 
Carolina  to  Louisiana,  rather  sparingly  in  this  State 
from  the  coast  to  Lincoln  County.  Its  leaves  are 
entire,  smooth  on  both  sides,  about  2  inches  long  and 
I  of  an  inch  wide,  with  short  stems.  The  flowers  are 
whitish  and  small,  growing  in  a  thick  cluster  in  the 
fork  of  the  leaves,  succeeded  by  a  black,  cherry-like 
fruit,  about  the  size  of  a  pea.  The  wood  is  exceed- 
ingly hard  and  heavy,  with  an  irregular  grain,  and 
would  doubtless  be  useful  for  mechanical  purposes, 
were  it  not  too  rare  to  attract  much  attention. 

Yellow  Wood.  (Symplocos  tinctoria,  L'Her.) 
— Also  called  Sweet  Leaf  and  High  Bush  Laurel.  It 
does  not  extend  much,  if  any,  north  of  James  River. 
In  this  State  it  occurs  from  the  coast  to  the  moun- 
tains, but  is  most  multiplied  in  the  Lower  District. 
In  poor  soils  it  is  only  a  shrub  2  to  6  feet  high  ;  but 
in  those  which  are  fertile,  as  on  the  borders  of 
swamps,  it  becomes  a  small  tree,  20  to  25  feet  high 
and  6  to  8  inches  in  diameter.  If  the  trunk  be 
wounded  in  Spring,  it  exudes  a  milky,  offensive  juice. 
The  leaves,  which  are  3  to  5  inches  long,  are  sweet 
to  the  taste  but  rather  dry,  and  greedily  eaten  by 
cattle  and  deer  in  Winter.  They  afford,  by  decoc- 
tion, a  beautiful  yellow  color,  which  is  fixed  by  a  lit- 
tle alum,  wherewith  cotton,  woollen  and  silk,  are 
dyed.  It  is  not  much  used,  however.  The  fruit  is  a 
small  one-seeded  berry.  The  wood  is  soft  and  value- 
less. 


110  .     THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

MAGNOLIAS. — Of  this  universally  and  deserv- 
edly admired  genus  there  are  seven  species  in  the 
United  States,  all  of  which  are  found  within  our 
borders.  They  all  have  an  aromatic  and  somewhat 
bitter  bark.  The  fruit  is  a  fleshy  cone,  from  the 
cells  of  which  the  scarlet  berries  are  expelled  and 
hang  for  some  days  by  elastic  cords.  The  berries  of 
most  become  quickly  corrupted,  but  may  be  pre- 
served for  use  in  damp  moss. 

1.  Magnolia.  (Magnolia  grandiflora,  Linn.) — I 
retain  the  common  designation  of  this  tree,  though 
we  have  six  others  equally  entitled  to  the  name. 
Farther  south  it  is  often  called  Big  Laurel.  The 
northern  limit  of  this  tree  is  in  Brunswick  County, 
south  of  the  Cape  Fear  ;  but  it  flourishes  vigorously 
in  cultivation  through  all  the  lower  part  of  the  State. 
Its  usual  height  in  the  forests  is  from  50  to  70  feet, 
but  has  been  found  90  feet  high,  and  has  a  handsome 
form.  The  leaves  are  6  to  10  inches  long,  evergreen, 
very  thick  and  leathery.  The  white  fragrant  flow- 
ers, 6  to  8  inches  broad,  contrasting  strongly  with 
the  dark  green  foliage,  make  this  perhaps  the  most 
beautiful  tree  in  the  United  States.  The  timber  of 
this  tree  is  soft  and  very  white,  but  is  little  used. 

2.  Sweet  Bay.  (M.  glauca,  Linn.) — The  small- 
est and  most  widely  diffused  of  our  Magnolias,  it 
being  common  in  the  maritime  districts  from  Louis- 
iana to  New  Jersey,  and  in  a  single  locality  north  of 
Boston.  In  this  State  it  is  seen  along  branches  and 
bays  throughout  the  Lower  District,  and  in  similar 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.      Ill 

situations,  tliough  not  common  in  the  Middle  Dis- 
trict. It  is  from  12  to  25  and  30  feet  high,  some- 
times flowering  at  the  height  of  5  to  6  feet.  The 
leaves  are  small,  the  white  under-surface  contrasting 
pleasantly  with  the  pale  green  of  the  upper.  The 
flowers  are  2  to  3  inches  broad,  pure  white,  and  of 
powerful  but  grateful  odor. 

3.  Umbrella  Tree.  (M.  Umbrella,  Lam.) — This 
is  common  in  the  Middle  and  Western  States  as  well 
as  in  the  Southern.  In  this  State  it  is  met  with  in 
shaded  deep  rich  soils  from  the  coast  to  Cherokee, 
and  is  mostly  called  Cucumber  Tree^  a  name  more 
generally  and  properly  given  to  the  next  species.  It 
is  from  25  to  35  feet  high.  The  leaves  are  18  to  20 
inches  long,  6  to  7  broad,  and  acute  at  each  end. 
The  flowers  are  7  to  8  inches  broad,  white,  and  not 
of  pleasant  odor.  Though  inferior  in  beauty  to  some 
others,  it  is  an  ornamental  tree  and  deserving  of  cul- 
tivation. 

4.  Cucumber  Tree.  (M.  acuminata,  Linn.) — 
This  seems  to  be  universally  known  by  the  name 
here  given,  and  is  so  designated  from  the  form  of  its 
cone  or  fruit,  which,  in  this  species,  is  narrower  than 
in  the  others,  and  when  green  is  not  unlike  a  cucum- 
ber about  3  inches  long.  The  tree  is  found  from  the 
Northern  Lakes  to  the  mountains  of  Georgia.  In 
this  State  it  grows  onl}^  on  tlie  mountains,  particu- 
larly of  Ashe,  Yancey  and  Burke,  in  moist  fertile 
soil  of  declivities  and  on  the  banks  of  torrents.  It  is 
from  60  to  80  feet  high,  and  4  to  5  in  diameter,  com- 


112  THE   TREES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

paring  well  in  dimensions  with  No.  1.  The  leaves 
are  6  to  8  inches  long,  3  to  4  broad,  and  rounded  at 
base.  The  flowers  are  4  to  5  inches  broad,  white, 
with  a  bluish  or  yellowish  tinge,  and  very  slightly 
odorous.  The  wood  is  somewhat  similar  to  that  of 
the  Tulip  Tree^  is  fine  grained  and  takes  a  good 
polish,  but  is  not  so  strong  and  durable.  As  an 
ornamental  tree  it  is  much  admired. 

5.  Large-Lea VED  Umbrella  'Tree.  (M.  mac- 
rophylla,  Michx.) — This  and  No.  3  derive  their  names 
of  Umbrella  Tree  from  the  mode  in  which  their  leaves 
spread  from  the  ends  of  the  branches.  It  is  a  rare 
product  east  of  the  Alleghanies,  having  been  found 
only  on  the  Chattahoochie  in  Georgia,  in  Middle 
Florida,  and  in  Lincoln  County  of  this  State.  West 
of  the  mountains  it  is  more  common,  though  in 
scattering  groups  and  at  wide  intervals.  Li  Lincoln 
it  occurs  in  several  places  not  far  from  the  road 
between  Lincolnton  and  Tuckaseegee  Ford ;  as  near 
Smith's,  the  Moore  Mine,  and  Huntersville,  six,  ten, 
and  eighteen  miles  from  the  former  place.  It  chooses 
cool,  rather  moist  and  fertile  situations,  is  from  15  to 
30  feet  high,  and  without  any  beauty  of  form.  But 
its  leaves  and  flowers  surpass  in  size  those  of  any  tree 
or  shrub  in  this  country.  The  former  are  from  20  to 
30  inches  long,  occasionally  even  longer,  clustered  at 
the  ends  of  the  branches  and  spreading  from  them 
like  an  umbrella,  their  two  sides  rounded  at  the  base 
and  diverging  like  ears  from  the  leaf-stem.  The 
flowers   are  12   to  14   inches  broad,    white,   with  a 


THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  113 

broad  purple  spot  on  the  inner  base  of  the  petals, 
and  fragrant.  It  bears  cultivation  very  well  in  our 
Middle  District.  In  the  Lower  District  it  is  not  so 
manageable,  but  can  there  be  grafted  on  the  native 
Umbrella  Tree,  as  was  successfully  done  by  the  elder 
Michaux  in  his  garden  near  Charleston. 

6.  Long-Leaved  Cucumber  Tree.  (M.  Fraseri, 
Walt.) — Found  only  in  ravines  of  the  mountains, 
where  it  is  known  by  this  name,  and  also  as  Wahoo 
and  Indian  Physic.  It  is  confined  chiefly  to  the 
mountains  of  the  Southern  States,  and  is  nowhere 
more  abundant  than  in  Ashe,  Yancey  and  Burke. 
It  is  40  to  45  feet  high,  with  a  diameter  of  12  to  15 
inches.  The  leaves  are  8  to  9  inches  long,  4  to  6 
broad,  and  though  a  third  smaller,  are  very  much 
like  those  of  No.  5  in  form  ;  the  base  in  this,  as  in 
that,  being  divided  into  rounded  lobes  or  ears.  The 
flowers  are  3  to  4  inches  broad,  pure  white,  and  of 
agreeable  fragrance.  The  cones  are  3  to  4  inches 
long,  and,  like  those  of  the  Umhrella  Tree.,  of  a  beau- 
tiful rose  color  when  ripe.  This  tree  bears  removal 
remarkably  well,  it  having  been  cultivated  in  the 
open  air  near  Philadelphia,  but  it  would  probably 
require  the  protection  of  shade  in  our  low  country. 

7.  Heart-Leaved  Cucumber  Tree.  (M.  cor- 
data,  Michx  ) — Often  confounded  with  the  Cucumber 
Tree^  to  which  it  bears  a  general  resemblance,  though 
it  is  a  very  distinct  species.  It  is  confined  to  declivi- 
ties of  the  mountains  from  Ashe  County  to  Georgia. 
It  has  a  regular  oval  summit,  is  30  to  50  feet  higli,  12 


114  THE   TREES   OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

to  18  inches  thick,  with  a  straight  trunk,  the  bark  of 
which  has  some  resemblance  to  that  of  Sweet  Gum 
or  of  a  young  White  Oak.  The  leaves  are  roundish 
and  heart-shaped,  4  to  6  inches  long,  3  to  5  wide.  The 
flowers  are  yellow,  the  inside  faintly  streaked  with 
red,  and  nearly  4  inches  broad.  The  cones  are  about 
3  inches  long  and  1  thick.  This  is  smaller  than  the 
Cucumber  Tree^  but  is  equally  desirable  in  private 
grounds  as  well  for  its  symmetrical  form  as  for  the 
beauty  of  its  flowers  and  its  luxuriant  foliage. 

Service  Berry.  (Amelanchier  Canadensis,  Torr. 
and  Gr.) — Universally  known  in  our  mountains 
under  the  name  of  Sarvices.  In  the  Lower  District 
it  is  called  Service  Tree  and  Wild  Currant.  In  the 
latter  section  of  the  State,  it  is  hardly  more  than  a 
shrub,  and  is  common  along  branches  and  swamps. 
In  the  former,  it  inhabits  the  shaded  sides  of  the 
mountains,  and  is  15  to  25  feet  high.  The  fruit  is 
here  much  sweeter,  more  juicy  and  palatable,  like 
the  Medlar^  than  in  other  parts  of  the  State,  and 
trees  are  sometimes  recklessly  cut  down  to  obtain  it. 
It  is  purplish  and  about  the  size  of  some  of  our  Red 
Haws.  This  shrub  or  tree,  when  displaying  its  j)ro- 
fusion  of  clustered  white  blossoms  in  early  Spring, 
is  not  without  beauty,  and  is  found  enumerated  in 
the  catalogues  of  some  northern  nurseries  as  The 
Snowy  Medlar.  A  name  so  promising  has  occasion- 
ally led  to  its  importation  into  the  State  for  the 
adornment  of  a  garden  or  shrubbery  ;  but  I  have 
never  known  it  preserved  over  one  season's  exhibi- 


THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  115 

tion,  the  owners  apparently  depreciating  a  beauty  so 
common. 

1.  Crab  Apple.  (Pyrus  coronaria,  Linn.) — Most 
common  in  the  Northern  and  North-western  States, 
but  extending  southward  along  the  mountains,  where 
alone  it  is  seen  in  this  State.  In  Yance}^  and  Hay- 
wood Counties  it  is  very  abundant,  usually  about  15 
to  20  feet  high,  and  5  to  8  inches  through ;  but  in 
some  situations  considerably  larger.  The  leaves  are 
cut  or  lobed,  not  unlike  those  of  the  Red  Maple. 
The  flowers'  are  of  great  beauty  and  diffuse  their 
grateful  fragrance  to  a  long  distance.  The  fruit  is 
too  austere  for  eating,  but  makes  excellent  preserves 
and  jelly,  though  requiring  much  sugar. 

A  celebrated  Cider  Apple,  known  as  Hughes's  Crah^ 
I  suppose  is  a  seedling  from  this  species. 

2.  Narrow-Leaved  Crab  Apple.  (P.  angusti- 
folia.  Ait.) — This  extends  from  Pennsylvania  south- 
ward, chiefly  in  those  regions  not  occupied  by  the 
former.  It  is  rather  common  in  our  Lower  and  Mid- 
dle Districts,  and  reaches  into  the  lower  part  of  the 
Upper.  It  is  of  about  the  same  height  with  No.  1, 
but  the  fruit  and  leaves  are  much  smaller,  the  latter 
being  narrow  and  merely  toothed  on  the  edge.  The 
flowers  are  beautiful  and  fragrant,  as  in  the  other 
species. 

3.  Choke  Berry.  (P.  arbutifolia,  Linn.) — A 
mere  shrub  2  to  3  feet  high,  introduced  here  only  to 
complete  an  account  of  the  genus.  The  fruit  is  berry- 
like, as  in  the  Mountain  Ash,  but  has  the  same  struc- 


116  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

ture  as  an  apple,  with  seeds  of  the  same  appearance 
and  taste.  It  grows  in  small  clusters,  and  is  rather 
dry  and  astringent.  We  have  two  varieties  of  this : 
— one,  with  a  red  or  purple  fruit,  found  on  the  bor- 
ders of  branches  and  bays  in  the  Middle  and  Lower 
Districts ; — the  other,  in  the  mountains,  and  having 
a  purplish-black  fruit. 

4.  Mountain  Ash.  (P.  Americana,  D.  C.) — 
This  charming  tree  is  but  little  known  in  this  State, 
even  in  the  mountains  where  it  grows.  At  the 
North  it  is  highly  prized  as  an  ornament  in  yards, 
especially  for  the  beauty  of  its  large  clusters  of  scar- 
let berries,  which  hang  upon  the  tree  through  the 
Winter.  It  is  scarcely  distinguishable  from  the  Moun- 
tain Ash  or  Rowan  Tree  of  Great  Britain.  It  is  not 
very  rare  on  our  higher  mountains,  from  Ashe  to 
Macon,  where  it  is  called  Wine  Tree  (from  a  kind  of 
liquor  said  to  be  made  from  it)  and  Mountain  Sumach. 
The  foliage  is  more  like  that  of  a  Sumach  than  of 
any  other  of  our  trees  ;  and  in  this  respect,  as  indeed 
in  every  other,  the  general  aspect  of  the  tree  is  so 
unlike  that  of  an  Apple  Tree.,  that  none  but  a 
Botanist  would  suspect  a  relationship.  The  flowers 
are  of  a  dirty  white,  in  spreading  clusters  like  those 
of  the  Elder,  succeeded  by  berry-like  scarlet  fruit. 
In  favorable  soil  this  is  from  12  to  20  feet  high ;  in 
rock}^  ground,  often  a  mere  shrub. 

Persimmon.  (Diospyros  Virginiana,  Linn.) — 
Common  in  the  United  States  from  Rhode  Island 
and  New  York  southward,  and  in  all  the  Districts 


THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  117 

of  this  State.  It  varies  much  in  height  accordiug  to 
situation  and  soil,  but  is  usually  from  30  to  40  feet, 
though  sometimes  as  high  as  60,  with  a  diameter  of 
18  to  20  inches.  When  standing  alone  it  has  a  very 
symmetrical  form  and  is  a  handsome  tree.  The 
heart-wood  is  of  a  brownish  tint,  hard,  compact, 
strong  and  elastic,  but  is  said  to  be  liable  to  split.  It 
has  been  used  for  large  screws,  mallets,  shoe-lasts  (con- 
sidered equal  to  those  made  of  Beech),  and  for  the 
shafts  of  vehicles,  which  are  said  to  be  better  than 
those  made  of  Ash.  With  us  the  wood  does  not 
appear  to  be  much  used.  The  inner  bark  is  astrin- 
gent and  tonic,  and  has  had  some  reputation  for 
being  useful  in  intermittent  fevers.  The  intolerable 
astringency  of  the  green  fruit  is  well  known.  When 
ripe  it  is  liked  by  many,  and  is  the  basis  of  a  bever- 
age, by  no  means  despicable,  called  ''Simmoyi  Beer. 
It  is  sometimes  pounded  up  with  bran,  and  the  cakes, 
dried  in  an  oven,  preserved  for  making  beer  with  the 
addition  of  hops  and  yeast.  Brandy  has  been  dis- 
tilled from  the  fermented  fruit,  which  is  said  to 
become  good  with  age. 

Mulberry.  (Morns  rubra,  Linn.) — Well  known 
throughout  the  Union,  but  most  abundant  in  the 
Western  States.  It  grows  in  all  parts  of  this  State, 
but  is  least  abundant  in  the  Lower  District.  It  is 
from  50  to  70  feet  high,  and  1  to  2  in  diameter. 
When  in  proper  soil,  and  unobstructed  in  its  lateral 
expansion  by  surrounding  trees,  this  becomes  a  tree 
of  line  form    and  casts   a   very  thick   shade.     The 


118      THE  TREES  OF  NOKTH  CAROLINA. 

heart-wood  is  yellowish,  fine  grained  and  compact, 
but  lighter  than  White  Oak.  It  has  much  strength 
and  solidity,  and  is  thought  by  many  to  be  as  dura- 
ble as  Locust.  It  is  much  used  in  fencing  and  in 
ship  and  boat  building.  The  leaves  are  too  thick 
and  rough  for  feeding  silk-worms,  though  they  have 
been  used  for  the  purpose  in  the  absence  of  better. 
The  fruit  is  deep  red  or  purple,  of  a  sweet  and  acidu- 
lous flavor  quite  agreeable  to  the  taste.  Though 
gently  laxative,  it  is  probably  a  wholesome  fruit. 

The  White  Mulberry  (M.  alba),  a  native  of  Asia, 
is  occasionally  seen  about  houses,  and  is  the  tree 
chiefly  used  on  the  old  Continent  for  rearing  silk- 
worms. The  Chinese  Mulhen^y  (M.  multicaulis)  is 
only  a  variety  of  the  White,  of  smaller  size  and  larger 
leaves.  The  Black  Mulberry  (M.  nigra)  of  Europe  is 
sometimes  cultivated  in  this  country,  but  I  have  not 
observed  it  in  this  State.  The  Otaheite  or  Paper 
Mulberry  (Broussonetia  papyrifera),  a  native  of  the 
Pacific  Islands,  is  common  in  our  yards,  and  is  com- 
mendable for  its  rapid  growth  and  heavy  shade,  but 
becomes  a  nuisance  from  the  numerous  shoots  spring- 
ing everywhere  from  its  spreading  roots. 

Cedar,  or  Red  Cedar.  (Juniperus  Virginiana, 
Linn.) — Not  uncommon  throughout  the  country  from 
New  England  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  but  the  soil  and 
climate  of  the  South  are  most  favorable  to  its  com- 
plete development.  It  is  from  30  to  40  feet  high, 
with  a  diameter  of  10  to  12  inches,  but  is  smaller  in 
the  mountains  and  western  parts  of  the  State  than 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.      119 

in  the  Lower  District.  In  old  fields  solitary  trees 
are  sometimes  seen  of  larger  dimensions  than  are 
above  given.  It  is  not  abundant  enough,  however, 
in  any  part  of  the  State,  to  be  used  in  the  arts.*''  The 
heart-wood  is  of  a  red  color,  but  the  sap  is  white.  It 
is  odorous,  compact,  fine  grained  and  very  light,  but 
heavier  and  stronger  than  Cyi^ress  or  White  Cedar. 
It  possesses  durability  in  an  eminent  degree,  and  is 
applied  to  all  purposes  which  require  this  quality. 
That  which  is  grown  near  the  coast  is  of  better 
quality  than  what  is  produced  farther  inland. 

This  tree  varies  so  much  in  the  color,  length  and 
spread  of  the  leaves  in  different  situations  and  at 
different  ages,  that  some  persons  make  two  species  of 
it,  one  of  which  they  call  Savin.  They  are,  however, 
but  one  species.  The  berries  of  this  tree  have  been 
a  little  employed  in  the  United  States  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  gin,  as  those  of  the  Juniper  are  used  in 
Europe.  Boxes  and  cabinets  made  of  the  wood  are 
exempt  from  insects,  its  odor  being  offensive  to 
them. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

The  remaining  trees  have  all  a  dry  fruit.,  but  of 
various  kinds,  and  no  very  intimate  relationship — to 
be  arranged  in  two  Groups. 

The  first  Group  includes  those  trees  which  have 
either  flowers  or  fruit  in  somewhat  the  form  of  tas- 
sels, as  in  the  Willow,  Cottonwood  and  Birch. 


120  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

POPLARS   OR   COTTONWOODS.— These  are 

generally  designated  by  the  latter  name  in  this  coun- 
try, but  they  are  true  Poplars.  Those  of  them  called 
Aspens  are  remarkable  for  the  easy  vibration  of  the 
leaves  when  scarcely  a  breath  of  air  is  perceptible. 
This  results  from  one  end  of  the  leaf-stem  being 
flattened  contrary  to  the  plane  of  the  leaf.  The  con- 
stant motion  of  the  leaves  is  supposed  to  have  been 
the  reason  for  giving  these  trees  the  name  of  Popu- 
lus  or  Poplar,  because  they,  like  the  populace^  are 
never  at  rest.  It  is  a  more  malicious  spirit  of  slan- 
der that  has  given  them  the  name  of  Women  s 
Tongues.  The  wood  of  all  the  species  is  soft  and 
brittle,  but  some  of  them  are  used  in  various  kinds 
of  light  wood-work. 

1.  Carolina  Poplar.  (Populus  angulata,  Ait.) 
— This  does  not  reach  northward  farther  than  south- 
ern Pennsylvania.  It  becomes  more  abundant  in 
the  low  country  of  all  the  Southern  States  upon  the 
marshy  banks  of  rivers,  in  company  with  Cypress., 
Red  Maple,  etc.  It  is  rare  in  the  Middle  District, 
but  is  sometimes  cultivated  there  about  houses.  It 
is  60  to  80  feet  high,  with  an  expanded  summit  and 
pleasing  foliage.  The  leaves  are  3  to  5  inches  long 
(on  young  shoots  6  to  8),  thin,  always  smooth  and 
bright  on  both  sides,  and  their  edges  have  small 
scalloped  teeth.  They  are  rounded  at  the  base,  and 
are  marked  with  yellowish  nerves.  The  buds  are 
short,  deep  green,  and  not  covered  with  gum.  The 
young  branches  and  annual  shoots  are  angular,  from 


THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  121 

which  character  its  botanical  name  of  angulata  is 
derived.  The  wood  does  not  appear  to  be  used. 
This  is  very  similar  to  the  Cottonwood  or  Cotton  Tree 
so  common  on  the  Western  rivers. 

2.  Cotton  Tree.  (P.  heterophylla,  Linn.) — A 
native  of  the  Middle,  Western  and  Southern  States, 
yet  is  so  rare  as  to  escape  general  notice.  I  do  not 
remember  to  have  met  with  it  in  this  State,  except  in 
rich  swamp  lands  on  the  lower  course  of  the  Cape 
Fear ;  but  it  probably  occurs  in  similar  ground  else- 
where. It  is  a  majestic,  shoAvy  tree,  70  to  80  feet 
high,  2  to  3  in  diameter,  with  a  very  thick,  deeply 
furrowed  bark.  The  young  branches  and  shoots  are 
round.  The  leaves,  3  to  5  inches  long,  and  with, 
rounded  teeth,  are  covered  on  the  underside  with  a 
thick  soft  down,  which  partially  falls  off  with  age. 
The  wood  is  much  like  that  of  the  preceding. 

3.  Large  Toothed  Aspen.  (P.  grandidentata, 
Michx.) — Not  so  common  in  the  Southern  as  in  tlie 
Middle  and  Northern  States.  With  us  it  belongs  to 
the  upper  part  of  the  Middle  District,  is  about  40 
feet  high,  and  has  a  smooth  gray  bark  that  seldom 
cracks.  The  leaves  are  3  to  5  inches  long,  about  the 
same  breadth,  with  Large  open  teeth  on  the  edges, 
and  the  underside  clothed  when  young  with  a  thick 
white  down  which  wholly  falls  away  before  the  end 
of  Summer.  This  tree  is  occasionally  seen  adorning 
the  streets  of  our  villages. 

The  Lomhardy  Poplar  (P.  dilatata,  Ait.),  a  native  of 
Italy,  is  common  in  cultivation  about  old  settlements. 


122  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

BIRCHES.— These  are  products  chiefly  of  high 
latitudes,  both  on  the  Eastern  and  Western  Conti- 
nents. In  this  State  we  have  but  a  single  species 
below  the  mountains. 

1.  Red  Birch.  (^Betula  nigra,  Linn.) — Common 
on  the  banks  of  rivers  from  the  coast  to  the  moun- 
tains, and  known  here  only  as  Birch.  This  is  sufficient 
designation  where  no  other  species  occurs,  but  it  is 
called  Red  Birch  in  those  States  and  regions  where  it 
is  accompanied  by  others.  It  is  from  40  to  60  feet 
high,  and  1  to  2  in  diameter.  It  has  wood  of  com- 
pact grain,  and  light  reddish  tint,  but  not  of  very 
high  value,  nor  is  it  much  used.  It  is  sometimes  em- 
ployed in  this  State  for  the  railing  of  balustrades, 
and  the  like  purposes.  Hoops  for  casks  may  be  made 
from  the  branches  and  shoots,  but  of  inferior  quality. 

2.  Black  Birch.  (B.  lenta,  Linn.) — In  our 
mountains,  where  alone  this  tree  is  found  within  this 
State,  it  is  simply  called  Birch.  The  most  common 
name  -for  it  in  the  United  States  is  the  one  above 
given.  In  the  mountains  of  Virginia  it  is  called 
Mountain  Mahogany ;  in  New  England  Stveet  Birch 
and  Cherry  Birch.  It  is  from  30  to  50  feet  high, 
with  a  smoothish  trunk,  resembling  that  of  a  Cherry 
tree.  The  wood,  freshly  cut,  is  of  a  rosy  hue,  which 
becomes  darker  by  exposure,  and  similar  to  that  of 
Wild  Cherry^  and  is  used,  like  that,  for  several  sorts 
of  cabinet  work.  It  has  considerable  strength,  is  of 
fine  close  grain,  and  susceptible  of  a  brilliant  polish, 
and  is  the  most  valuable  of  all  the  Birches  known. 


THE   TREES    OF   NOPwTH    CAROLINA.  123 

though  hardly  equal  to  Wild  Che^^ry.  Furniture 
made  of  it,  as  chairs,  tables,  etc.,  will,  in  time  and  by 
careful  use,  acquire  very  much  the  appearance  of 
Mahogany.  The  leaves  and  blossoms  liave  consider- 
able fragrance,  and  the  bark  of  the  young  shoots  has  a 
delightful  spicy  flavor  like  that  of  the  Mountain  Tea  or 
Spicy  Winte7^green.  The  tree  is  one  of  much  beauty, 
with  dark  graceful  foliage,  and  a  symmetrical  form. 

3.  Yellow  Birch.  (B.  excelsa.  Ait.) — This  is  a 
northern  tree,  as  south  of  the  mountains  of  New 
York,  with  the  exception  of  small  patches  in  New 
Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  and  the  three  or  four  stocks 
which  I  found  near  the  (highest)  summit  of  Black 
Mountain,  it  is  unknown.  Its  yellowish-silvery  bark, 
scaling  off  in  thin  sheets,  like  that  of  the  Paper  or 
Cayioe  Bircli^  will  at  once  distinguish  this  from  the 
two  preceding.  It  is  about  25  feet  high.  The  tim- 
ber is  rather  inferior  to  that  of  Black  Birch.  It  is  a 
handsome  tree,  and  its  twigs  slightly  aromatic. 

WILLOWS.— There  are  20  or  30  species  of  these 
in  the  United  States,  nearly  all  of  which  belong  ex- 
clusively to  the  North.  A  few,  though  they  are  of 
no  importance,  extend  to  this  State  and  farther  south. 
The  value  of  some  species  in  wicker-work  is  generally 
known.  The  articles  manufactured  from  them  are 
made  from  the  young,  slender  and  flexible  twigs  and 
shoots. 

1.  Black  Willow.  (Salix  nigra.  Marsh.)— This 
is  the  only  native  Willow  in  the  State  that  becomes 


124  THE   TP.EES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

a  tree.  It  is  15  to  25  feet  liigh,  with  a  rough  dark- 
brown  bark,  very  common  along  streams  from  the 
coast  westward.  The  wood  is  soft  and  of  little  use  ; 
but  when  the  stocks  are  of  sufficient  size,  they  are 
said  to  make  durable  light  timbers  for  boats.  The 
roots  give  an  intensely  bitter  decoction,  which  is 
thought  by  some  to  be  good  for  purifying  the  blood, 
and  a  remedy  for  intermittent  fevers. 

2.  Gray  Willow.  (S.  tristis,  Ait.) — A  shrub  1 
to  2  feet  high,  very  much  branched,  of  a  dull  gray 
aspect  on  account  of  the  young  branches  and  leaves 
being  covered  with  an  ash-colored  down  or  wool. 
The  leaves  are  from  1  to  li  inch  long  with  a  hardly 
perceptible  stem,  narrow,  sharp  at  each  end,  but  ta- 
pering from  the  base  towards  the  upper  end,  and  with 
the  veins  prominent  on  the  underside.  I  have  met 
with  this  insignificant  plant  only  in  the  mountain 
counties. 

3.  Bush  Willow.  (S.  humilis,  Marsh.) — Larger 
than  the  preceding,  2  to  4  feet  high,  but  of  similar 
general  aspect,  the  leaves  two  or  three  times  longer 
and  broader,  and  found  both  in  the  Middle  and  Up- 
per Districts,  rarely  in  the  Lower.  During  Summer 
the  branches  of  this  and  No.  2  have  cone-like  excres- 
cences on  their  ends. 

.  4.  Silky-Leaved  Willow.  (S.  sericea.  Marsh.) 
— This  is  3  to  6  feet  high,  with  leaves  2  to  3  inches 
long,  borne  on  conspicuous  stems,  pale,  and  with 
silky  hairs  on  the  underside. 

The  Weeping   Willow  (S.  Babylonica)   is  common, 


THE   TREES    OF   KORTII    CAROLINA.  125 

and  the  Yellow  Wllloiv  (S.  vitellina),  occasionally 
seen  in  cultivation. 

Hornbeam.  Ironwood.  (Carpinus  Americana, 
Michx.) — Among  the  commonest  productions  of  the 
country  and  Avell  known  by  one  or  other  of  these 
names.  It  is  found  on  the  banks  of  streams  in  all 
parts  of  the  State,  generally  12  to  15  feet  high,  but 
sometimes  25  to  30,  with  a  diameter  of  5  to  6  inches. 
The  trunk  has  a  smooth  gray  bark,  and  at  the  base  is 
irregularly  fluted  or  ridged.  The  wood  is  white,  ex- 
ceedingly hard,  compact  and  fine  grained,  but  the 
small  size  of  the  tree  forbids  its  use  except  for 
inferior  purposes. 

Hop  Hornbeam.  (Ostrya  Virginica,  Willd.) — 
This  and  the  preceding  have  characters  and  qualities 
so  very  similar  that  they  are  generally  called  by  the 
same  names.  But  the  bladdery  fruit  of  this  looks  so 
much  like  Hops  that  it  can  very  easily  be  distin- 
guished through  the  Summer.  It  is  only  in  the  Up- 
per District  that  I  have  met  with  it,  and  very  rarely 
there.  It  is  20  to  30  feet  high,  with  a  brownish 
finely  furrowed  bark,  the  trunk  not  ridged  at  tlie 
bottom  like  the  preceding.  The  wood  is  like  that, 
and  also  used  for  levers,  &c.,  for  which  we  have  noth- 
ing better  adapted,  on  account  of  its  great  strength 
and  toughness.  For  mill-cogs,  wedges,  mallets  and  the 
like,  both  these  species  would,  doubtless,  answer  well. 

The  remaining  Group  includes  a  heterogeneous 
mass  of  dry-fruited  Trees,  but  fortunately  nearly  all 


126  THE   TEEES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

are  so  well  known,  that  they  will  need  no  particular 
description. 

Sycamore.  (Platanus  occidentalis,  Linn.) — This 
is  the  name  generally  given,  I  believe,  to  this  tree  in 
North  Carolina ;  but  it  is  more  extensively  known  in 
the  United  States  as  Buttonwood.  In  some  sections 
it  is  called  Water  Beech  and  Plane  Tree.  The  last 
would  be  most  appropriate,  if  we  were  governed  in 
our  choice  by  the  application  of  the  names  of  kindred 
species  in  Europe.  The  Sycamore  of  Europe  is  a 
species  of  3Iaple^  having  no  relationship  with  what 
we  call  by  that  name. 

This  tree,  like  the  Planes  of  the  old  Continent  so 
much  celebrated  by  the  ancients,  is  among  the  largest 
in  the  Temperate  Zones.  It  is  common  over  the 
United  States  on  the  borders  of  streams,  where  the 
soil  is  moist  and  fertile,  conspicuous  for  its  white 
bark  and  the  stately  size  of  its  trunk.  In  such  situ- 
ations it  is  found  throughout  the  State,  but  is  least 
abundant  in  the  Lower  District.  Although  occa- 
sionally found  here  of  large  dimensions,  it  is  not  of 
such  size  as  in  the  virgin  forests  of  the  West,  where 
this  tree  has  its  peculiar  home,  and  where  it  is  some- 
times seen  without  branches  to  the  height  of  60  to 
70  feet,  and  with  a  circumference  of  40  to  50  feet. 
A  hollow  section  of  a  trunk  was  once  used  in  Ohio 
as  a  bar-room  ; — the  same,  I  believe,  now  exhibited 
in  a  New  York  Museum.  This  reminds  us  of  the 
famous  Plane  tree  of  Lycia,  mentioned  by  Pliny, 
whose  hollow  trunk  gave  shelter  for  a  night  to  Licin- 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.      127 

ius  Mutianus  and  a  retinue  of  eighteen  persons.  Its 
interior  was  75  feet  in  circuit.  The  wood  of  our  tree 
becomes  reddish  in  seasoning,  of  a  fine  close  grain, 
and  takes  a  better  polish  than  Beech^  to  which  it 
bears  some  resemblance.  As  it  is  liable  to  warp,  it  is 
not  much  used  in  cabinet  work,  except  for  bedsteads. 
It  decays  rapidly  by  exposure  to  the  weather,  and  is 
therefore  suitable  for  such  articles  only  as  are 
thoroughly  sheltered.  The  rapid  growth,  great  size, 
and  thick  shade  of  this  tree,  render  it  valuable  for 
avenues  and  shaded  grounds. 

Sweet  Gum.  (Liquidambar  Styraciflua,  Linn.) — 
One  of  the  most  extensively  diffused  trees  in  North 
America,  it  being  found  from  Southern  New  England 
to  Mexico.  It  is  from  40  to  70  feet  high,  and  2  to  3 
in  diameter.  The  wood  is  reddish,  compact,  fine 
grained,  and  takes  a  fine  polish.  Though  inferior  to 
Oak,  it  is  suitable  for  objects  requiring  toughness 
and  solidity.  When  properly  seasoned,  it  serves 
w^ell  in  the  upper  frame-work  of  buildings,  and  lasts 
better  than  any  of  the  Red  Oaks.  It  is  sometimes 
employed  for  lining  the  inside  of  Mahogany  furniture, 
to  which  it  is  well  adapted  by  its  color,  lightness,  and 
fine  grain.  Though  inferior  to  Black  Walnut  and 
Cherry^  it  is  sometimes  used  for  similar  purposes  in 
the  manufacture  of  furniture  ;  but  is  not  durable  un- 
less sheltered  from  the  air.  The  bruised  leaves  have 
a  resinous  fragrance,  and  fresh  ones  are  successfully 
used  in  cases  of  dysentery.  The  dusty  matter  in  the 
ripe  burs  is  only  the  abortive  seeds.     The  fragrant 


128  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

gum  is  the  hardened  juice.  This  is  a  beautiful  tree, 
especially  in  Autumn  when  the  dying  foliage  has 
taken  its  hue  of  deep  crimson,  and  should  be  oftener 
seen  in  private  grounds. 

Tulip  Tree,  or  Poplar.  (Liriodendron  Tulipi- 
fera,  Linn.) — This  tree  is  rarely  surpassed  in  elegance 
of  form,  in  size,  beauty  of  foliage,  or  showiness  of 
blossom,  by  any  tree  of  the  American  forests.  In 
some  of  the  Northern  States  it  is  called  White  Wood 
and  Canoe  Wood.  In  Europe,  where  it  has  been  long 
and  extensively  introduced,  it  bears  the  name  of  Tu- 
lip Tree  (which  has  been  adopted  to  some  extent  in 
this  country),  from  the  resemblance  of  its  flower  to 
that  of  a  Tulip.  This  is  much  preferable  to  that  of 
Poplar  (which  it  bears  in  this  and  the  Western 
States),  because  it  has  but  little  resemblance  in  any 
particular  to  the  true  Poplars.  It  is  native  in  all 
parts  of  the  State,  but  is  not  so  common  in  the  Lower 
District  as  in  others.  It  is  from  60  to  100  feet  high, 
with  a  very  straight  tapering  trunk,  and  has  a  diam- 
eter of  2  to  3  feet.  There  is  a  stock  on  the  South 
Fork  of  Toe  River,  which  is  near  9  feet  in  diameter. 
The  wood  is  fine  grained,  works  easily  and  takes  a 
^ood  polish.  It  is  heavier  and  more  compact  than 
that  of  the  Poplars,  The  heart  is  yellowish,  and  the 
sap-wood  white,  though  when  grown  in  dry  gravelly 
soils  the  whole  wood  is  white  and  coarser.  These 
are  distinguished  as  Yellow  and  White  Pojjlar,  the 
former  being  most  valuable.  For  the  rafters  and 
joists  of  buildings  the  timber  is  the  best  substitute 


THE  TREES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.      129 

for  Pine,  Cedar  and  Cypress.  The  boards  are  often 
used  for  the  exterior  and  interior  work  of  houses, 
even  for  shingling,  as  they  are  durable  and  not  liable 
to  split  from  the  influences  of  heat  and  moisture. . 
They  are  much  used  by  coach,  chair  and  trunk 
makers,  and  are  very  valuable  for  all  kinds  of  wood- 
work requiring  lightness,  strength  and  durability. 

The  bark  of  the  root,  mixed  with  equal  parts  of 
Dogivood  bark,  is  a  domestic  remedy  in  intermittent 
fever.  Some  physicians  have  employed  it  success- 
fully alone,  or  accompanied  with  laudanum,  in  re- 
mittent and  intermittent  fevers,  cholera  infantum, 
hysterical  afl'ections,  and  for  worms  ;  but  others  have 
denied  its  efiicacy.  Dr.  Darlington  says  that  the 
bark  of  the  root  and  young  tree  is  a  valuable  aromatic 
bitter. 

LINN  OR  LIME  TREES.— These  are  handsome 
trees,  as  well  for  their  form  as  for  the  pleasing  hue 
and  fine  shade  of  their  foliage.  They  are  known  in 
the  Northern  States  by  the  names  of  Lime.  Tree  and 
WJiite  Wood,  but  more  generally  by  that  of  Bass 
Wood.  In  Europe  the  species  of  this  genus  are  called 
Linden  and  Lime  Trees.  The  wood  is  white  and  soft, 
and  is  used  for  similar  purposes  with  that  of  the  Tu- 
Up  Tree,  where  the  latter  is  not  found,  but  is  softer 
and  splits  more  readily.  It  is  well  adapted  for  turn- 
ers' work,  and  is  extensively  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  wooden  ware.  The  inner  bark,  when  macerated, 
separates  into  broad  fibres,  which  are  used  for  making 


180  THE   TREES    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

coarse  cordage  and  matting.  In  Europe  this  kind  of 
stuff  is  called  Bast  (whence  the  name  of  Bass  Wood)^ 
and  large  quantities  are  exported  from  Russia.  The 
bark  also  contains  a  good  deal  of  mucilage,  from 
which  liniments  are  prepared  for  burns  and  scalds. 
In  Europe,  the  honey  made  from  the  flowers  of  the 
Linn  is  considered  the  best  in  the  world,  and  when 
made  exclusively  from  them,  sells  for  more  than 
double  the  price  of  any  other.  The  flowers  of  our 
American  species  would  very  likely  serve  as  well  in 
improving  the  quality  of  honey.  There  are  but  3 
species  of  Linn  in  the  United  States,  and  all  are 
found  in  North  Carolina.  The  flowers  of  the  Linn 
are  small,  cream-colored,  growing  in  loose  clusters 
upon  a  common  stem  which  is  attached  to  the  middle 
of  a  narrow,  strap-like  leaf  or  bract; — a  character 
that  will  distinguish  these  trees  from  all  others. 

1.  American  Linn.  (Tilia  Americana,  Linn.) — 
This  is  found  from  Canada  to  Georgia ;  in  this  State 
confined  to  the  mountains  and  the  upper  part  of  the 
Middle  District.  It  is  a  handsome  tree,  50  to  80 
feet  high,  1  to  4  in  diameter.  The  leaves  are  8  to  4 
inches  broad,  heart-shaped,  but  one  side  smaller  than 
the  other  at  the  base,  smooth  or  nearly  so,  and  paler 
green  on  the  underside.  The  timber  of  this  species 
is  considered  more  valuable  than  that  of  the  others. 

2.  White  Linn.  (T.  heterophylla.  Vent.) — 
More  abundant  in  the  Middle  and  Western  States 
than  elsewhere.  In  this  State  it  is  most  common  in 
the  Upper  District,  but  occurs  sparingly  in  the  Mid- 


THE   TREES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  131 

die  and  Lower.  It  seldom  exceeds  40  feet  in  height, 
with  a  diameter  of  12  to  18  inches.  The  young 
branches  have  a  smooth  silver-gray  bark,  by  which  it 
can  be  distinguished  in  Winter  from  the  other  species. 
The  leaves  are  quite  large,  6  to  8  inches  broad,  deep 
green  above,  and  with  a  silver-white  down  under- 
neath. 

3.  Southern  Linn.  (T.  pubescens.  Ait.)— This 
is  confined  to  the  Lower  Districts  of  the  Southern 
States,  choosing  cool  fertile  soils  upon  the  borders  of 
swamps  and  rivers.  It  is  40  to  50  feet  high,  resem- 
bling No.  1,  of  which  it  may  be  only  a  variety.  The 
leaves  are  2  to  4  inches  broad,  shaped  as  in  No.  1, 
the  edges  with  fewer  and  more  distant  teeth  than  in 
No.  2,  and  with  a  rusty,  thin,  vanishing  down  on  the 
underside. 

Sour  Wood.  Sorrel  Tree.  (Oxydendrum  ar- 
boreum,  DC.) — This  extends  from  Pennsylvania 
southward,  especially  along  the  mountain  valleys. 
In  our  Lower  District  it  is  rare,  not  uncommon  in 
the  Middle,  but  is  most  abundant  in  the  lower  parts 
of  the  mountains.  It  is  usually  a  small  tree,  but  in 
some  localities,  as  on  the  upper  waters  of  the  Ca- 
tawba, it  attains  a  height  of  50  to  60  feet,  and  a 
diameter  of  12  to  15  inches.  The  wood  is  of  no  value. 
The  leaves,  which  are  not  unlike  those  of  the  Peach, 
are  acid  like  Sorrel,  from  whence  its  names  are  de- 
rived. These,  in  the  absence  of  Sumach,  are  some- 
times used  for  dyeing  wool  of  a  black  color.  The 
small  flowers,  about  the  size  and  form  of  those  of  our 


132  THE  TREES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

swamp  Huckleberry,  are  in  large  loose  clusters,  which 
hang  in  profusion  over  the  branches  with  somewhat 
of  a  plume-like  grace,  and  make  this  tree  one  of  the 
ornaments  of  our  woods. 

Loblolly  Bay.  (Gordonia  Lasianthus,  Linn.) — 
This  pretty  tree,  belonging  to  the  family  of  the  Ca- 
mellias^ belongs  within  the  range  of  the  Long-leaved 
Pine,  and  is  there  confined,  I  think,  to  the  branch- 
swamps  and  bays  w^ithin  100  miles  of  the  coast.  It 
is  from  50  to  70  feet  high,  with  a  diameter  of  18  to 
24  inches.  When  young,  it  is  of  a  fine  pyramidal 
form;  but  with  age  the  branches  spread  irregularly, 
and  the  top,  owing  possibly  to  the  brittleness  of  the 
wood,  seems  subject  to  early  decay.  The  leaves  are 
evergreen,  with  sharply  toothed  edges.  The  flowers 
are  about  2  inches  broad,  white,  and  somewhat  fra- 
grant, and  young  trees  in  blossom  are  very  attractive. 
The  wood  is  of  rosy  hue,  of  fine  texture  and  silky 
lustre,  but  is  light  and  brittle,  and  subject  to  rapid 
decay,  unless  kept  perfectly  dry.  The  bark  is  valua- 
ble for  tanning,  but  is  not  abundant  enough  for  ex- 
tensive use.  The  fruit  is  a  small,  dry,  woody  capsule, 
i  to  I  inch  long. 

Snow  Drop  Tree.  (Halesia  tetraptera,  Linn.) — 
Found  but  a  short  distance  beyond  the  northern  line 
of  this  State.  In  our  Lower  District  it  is  very  spar- 
ingly distributed.  In  the  Middle  District  I  have  not 
seen  it  east  of  Surry  and  Mecklenburg,  but  from 
thence  westward  to  Cherokee  it  is  not  uncommon 
along  water  courses,  especially  above  that  part  of 


THE  TKEES  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.      133 

their  course  where  they  are  generally  turbid.  It  is 
ordinarily  a  small  tree,  from  10  to  25  feet  high;  but 
upon  some  of  our  mountain  streams  it  acquires  nearly 
double  these  dimensions.  It  is  not  of  handsome 
form  ;  but  its  clusters  of  white  bell-shaped  flowers 
(similar  to  those  of  the  garden  Snoiv  Drop)  about  half 
an  inch  long,  give  it  an  aspect  of  much  beauty  when 
in  blossom.  I  have  never  seen  it  in  cultivation,  but 
it  deserves  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  cool  moist  parts 
of  ornamented  grounds.  The  fruit  is  greenish  and 
slightly  juicy  when  young,  becoming  dry.  It  has  4 
winged  angles,  is  about  li  inch  long,  with  a  bony 
nut  inside. 

Planer  Tree.  (Planera  aquatica,  Gmel.) — This 
tree,  closely  related  to  the  Elm  and  the  Hackherry^  is 
rare  in  the  Atlantic  States  and  unknown  north  of 
the  Cape  Fear  River.  From  thence  southward  it  is 
found  on  the  borders  of  streams  and  swamps,  and 
may  very  easily  be  mistaken,  at  a  little  distance,  for 
tlie  Hornbeam.  It  is  from  20  to  40  feet  high,  and  8 
to  15  inches  in  diameter.  The  wood  is  said  to  be 
hard  and  strong,  but  is  too  rare  with  us  to  be  6f  any 
use.  The  leaves  are  about  1^  inch  long,  and  much 
like  those  of  our  Small-leaved  Elm.  The  flowers  are 
in  a  small,  round  greenish  cluster  about  the  size  of 
small  Peas  and  appearing  before  the  leaves.  The 
fruit  is  a  nut  covered  with  warty  scales,  quite  small. 


THE 


Shrubs  of  North  CaroHna, 


Under  this  head  will  he  included  those  woody 
plants  which  do  not  ordinarily  exceed  20  feet  in 
height,  whatever  may  be  their  form.  So  many  of 
these  are  without  names,  and  there  is  such  a  variety 
in  their  fruits  or  seed-vessels,  that  I  cannot  make  so 
intelligible  an  arrangement  of  them  for  popular  use 
as  I  have  done  for  the  Trees.  Still,  I  hope  that  most 
of  them,  and  all  that  are  of  any  importance,  can  be 
identified  without  much  difficulty.  They  Avill  be  ar- 
ranged, like  the  Trees,  according  to  the  character  of 
their  fruit,  under  the  two  primary  divisions  of  the 
Fleshy  Fruited  and  Bry  Fruited^  beginning  with  the 
former. 

Quite  a  number  of  shrubs  have  been  already  de- 
scribed under  the  class  of  Trees,  wherever  a  genus 
included  both  classes. 

RED  HAWS. — Thorny  shrubs,  sometimes  tree- 
shaped,  with  white  flowers,  mostly  in  flat  topped 
clusters,  and  colored  (generally  red)  fruit  containing 
1  to  5  bony  seeds. 

1.  Scarlet  Haw.      (Cratsegus   coccinea,    Linn.) 


THE   SHRUBS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  135 

— Grows  in  the  Middle  and  Upper  Districts,  6  to  12 
feet  high,  with  stout  thorns  1  and  2  inches  long.  The 
leaves  are  smooth  and  thin,  about  2  inches  long  and 
broad,  cut  into  several  small  segments  on  each  side. 
The  fruit  is  bright  red,  ^  inch  or  more  long,  and 
eatable. 

2.  Washington  Thorn.  (C.  cordata.  Ait.) — 
I  have  seen  this  only  in  the  Middle  District.  It  is  a 
very  beautiful  shrub  when  in  blossom,  as  may  be 
seen  on  the  Cape  Fear  near  Averasboro  in  May.  It 
is  from  10  to  20  feet  high,  the  thorns  about  2  inches 
long,  and  rather  slender.  The  leaves  are  2  to  3 
inches  long,  cut  into  3  divisions  somewhat  like 
those  of  the  Red  Maple.  The  fruit  is  bright  crimson, 
about  i  inch  long. 

3.  Parsley-Leaved  Haw.  (C.  apiifolia,  Michx.) 
— This,  so  closely  resembling  the  ffaivthorn  of  Eng- 
land, is  found  in  the  Lower  and  Middle  Districts. 
The  leaves  are  about  1  inch  long,  and  much  cut  up 
into  small  divisions,  from  which  this  handsome  shrub 
or  small  tree  derives  its  name,  and  by  which  it  is 
easily  distinguished  from  all  the  other  species.  The 
fruit  is  red  and  about  i  inch  long. 

4.  CocKSPUR  Thorn.  (C.  Crus-galli,  Linn.) — The 
most  abundant  of  our  Thorns  or  Rmvs^  and  found  in 
all  the  Districts.  It  is  10  to  20  feet  high  and  armed 
with  sharp  thorns  2  inches  or  more  long.  The  leaves 
are  about  2  inches  long,  rather  thick  and  stiff,  shin- 
ing green  above,  somewhat  tapering  from  the  upper 
part  downward,  and  toothed  above  the  middle.    The 


^ 


136  THE   SHKUBS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

fruit  is  red,  about  i  inch  long.  This  is  our  best 
species  for  hedging.  But  it  shoukl  be  remembered 
that  none  answers  well  if  left  at  random  to  an  up- 
ward growth,  and  is  not  well  laid  and  so  regularly 
trimmed  or  cut  in  as  to  take  a  lateral  growth  and  to 
branch  freely  near  the  ground. 

5.  Black  Thorn.  (C.  tomentosa,  Linn.) — A 
shrub  or  small  tree  in  the  Middle  and  Upper  Districts, 
with  large  clusters  of  flowers,  which  are  I  inch  or 
more  broad,  and  a  round  or  pear-shaped,  edible  fruit, 
which  is  orange-red  and  about  I  inch  long.  The 
leaves  are  3  to  5  inches  long,  of  an  oval  or  oblong 
form,  finely  toothed  and  sometimes  cut  at  the  summit, 
somewhat  hairy  on  the  underside,  and  more  or  less 
furrowed  along  the  veins  above. 

There  is  a  form  of  this  (var :  punctata,  Gray)  very 
common  on  the  tops  of  our  mountains,  with  the 
leaves  smaller,  more  narrowed  towards  the  base,  and 
the  furrows  on  the  upper  surface  deeper,  and  the 
veins  more  prominent  beneath.  The  fruit  is  rounds 
3^ellowish  or  dull  red,  sprinkled  with  whitish  dots. 

6.  Narrow-Leaved  Thorn.  (C.  spathulata, 
Michx.) — Not  uncommon  in  the  Lower  and  Middle 
Districts,  10  to  15  feet  high,  with  quite  small  flowers 
and  fruit,  but  rather  ornamental.  The  leaves  are 
smooth  and  shining,  2  to  I2  inch  long,  i  to  i  inch 
wide,  toothed  at  the  upper  end  and  tapering  from 
near  the  top  down  to  the  stem.  The  fruit  is  red  and 
in  numerous  clusters. 

7.  Summer  Haw.     (C.  flava,  Ait.) — A  small  tree 


THE   SHRUBS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  137 

15  to  20  feet  high,  in  sandy  woods,  with  fruit  i  to  | 
inch  thick,  pear-shaped,  and  greenish-yellow.  The 
leaves  are  2  to  3  inches  long,  wedge-shaped,  the 
lower  part  tapering  into  a  short  stem  with  small  dark 
glands  on  the  edges.  The  flowers  but  from  2  to  5  in 
a  cluster. 

-^  8.  Hairy  Thorn.  (C.  glandulosa,  Michx.) — A 
small  tree  with  coarse  bark  and  spreading  branches, 
and  the  leaves,  branchlets  and  flower  stems  covered 
with  soft  hairs,  especially  when  young.  The  leaves 
are  about  1  inch  long,  rather  thickish,  wedge-shaped, 
the  edges  generally  dotted  with  dark  glands.  The 
fruit  is  small,  round,  and  red.  The  flowers  are  3  to  6 
in  a  cluster. 

9.  Dwarf  Thorn.  (C.parvifolia,  Ait.) — A  small 
shrub  2  to  5  feet  high,  very  common  in  sandy  woods 
throughout  the  Lower  and  Middle  Districts,  and  with 
a  whitish  down  on  most  of  its  parts.  The  leaves  are 
i  to  li  inch  long,  broad,  wedge-shaped,  toothed,  with 
hardly  an}^  stem.  Flowers  solitary,  or  2  or  3  together. 
Fruit  round  or  pear-shaped,  greenish-yellow,  rather 
large  and  dry. 

^  Barberry.  (Berberis  Canadensis,  Pursh.) — 
Found  in  Lincoln,  thence  westward,  especially  in 
Buncombe,  Haywood  and  Macon  Counties.  It  is  not 
known  to  exist  north  of  Virginia,  and  is  the  only  na- 
tive Barberry  in  the  United  States.  The  European 
species  (B.  vulgaris)  is  thoroughly  naturalized  in 
New  England.  Ours  is  a  pretty  shrub,  2  to  4  feet 
high  and  somewhat  prickly.     The  fruit  is  an  oblong, 


138  THE   SHRUBS   OF   NOETH   CAROLINA. 

red  and  acid  berry,  which  makes  an  agreeable  con- 
serve, and  a  cooling  drink  in  fevers.  The  leaves  are 
also  slightly  acid.  It  is  probable  that  this,  like  the 
European  species,  which  it  closely  resembles,  would 
furnish  a  yellow  color  by  boiling  the  roots  in  lye ; 
and  that  the  inner  bark  of  the  stems  would  dye  linen 
of  a  fine  yellow  with  the  assistance  of  alum. 

GOOSEBERRIES    AND    CURRANTS.— These 

belong  to  one  genus,  but  are  distinguished — the 
former,  by  the  small  sharp  thorns  at  the  base  of  the 
leaves,  sometimes  the  fruit  being  prickly,  and  gener- 
ally (al\va3'S  in  the  North  Carolina  species)  by  the 
flower  stems  having  from  1  to  3  flowers ;  the  latter, 
by  the  absence  of  thorns,  smaller  fruit  (never  prickly), 
and  the  flowers  numerous  in  long  clusters.  They 
are  found  only  in  the  mountains. 
-^  1.  Prickly  Gooseberry.  (Ribes  Cynosbati, 
Linn.) — Distinguished  from  the  others  by  its  prickly 
fruit,  which  is  brownish  when  ripe,  and  eatable. 

2.  Smooth  Gooseberry.  (R.  rotundifolium, 
Michx.) — This  is  3  .to  4  feet  high,  the  leaves  1  to  2 
inches  broad,  about  half  the  size  of  the  preceding,  the 
fruit  small,  purple  when  ripe,  and  of  fine  flavor. 
^-  3.  Slender  Gooseberry.  (R.  gracile,  Michx.) — 
Very  similar  to  No.  2,  but  every  way  more  slender 
and  delicate,  and  quite  rare. 

4.  Fetid  Currant.  (R.  prostratum,  L'Her.) — - 
Occurring  chiefly  upon  rocks  on  our  highest  moun- 
tains and  generally  spreading  on  the  ground.     The 


THE   SHRUBS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  139 

berry  is  covered  with  bristles  and  is  not  pleasant 
flavored.  The  wliole  plant  exhales  a  disagreeable 
musky  odor,  which  will  readily  distinguish  it. 

5.  Bristly  Currant.  (R.  resinosum,  Pursh.) — 
This  was  discovered  in  our  mountains  by  Fraser,  I 
have  not  myself  met  with  it.  It  is  covered  in  every 
part,  not  excepting  the  fruit,  with  resinous  glandular 
hairs,  by  which  it  may  be  recognized. 

HUCKLEBERRIES.— The  fruit  so  called  in  this 
State  is  comprised  in  two  genera ;  the  first  (Gaylus- 
sacia)  including  those  Avhich  have  a  black  or  blackish 
berry,  and  leaves  generally  covered  with  small  gland- 
ular dots  ;  the  second  (Vaccinium)  including  those 
with  a  blue^  red  or  gree7iish  berry.  The  blue  ones 
are  known  in  some  States  as  Blueberries  or  Bilberries, 
The  red  are  Cranberries.  The  greenish  one  is  in  this 
State  called  Gooseberry/  and  Beerberry, 

1.  Blue  Huckleberry.  (Gaylussacia  frondosa, 
Torr.  and  Gr.) — Common  in  the  Lower  and  Middle 
Districts  on  the  borders  of  low  grounds,  2  to  3  feet 
high,  with  pale,  somewhat  wrinkled  leaves,  which  are 
whitish  underneath,  and  1  to  3  inches  long.  The 
berries  are  dark  blue,  large  and  sweet,  perhaps  the 
finest  flavored  we  have,  ripening  in  June. 

2.  Dwarf  Huckleberry.  (G.  dumosa,  Torr.  and 
Gr.) — A  low  species  about  a  foot  high,  with  creeping 
roots,  very  common  in  dry  Avoods  of  the  Lower  and 
Middle  Districts.  It  is  somewhat  hairy  and  glandu- 
lar, the  leaves  broad,  wedge-shaped,  green  on  both 


140     THE  SHRUBS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 

sides,  and  the  fruit  smooth,  black  and  insipid.  A 
larger  form  of  this  (var  :  hirtella)  has  the  berries  also 
hairy. 

3.  Black  Huckleberry.  (G.  resinosa,  T.  and 
Gr.) — Belongs  to  the  Middle  and  Upper  Districts,  2 
to  3  feet  high  and  much  branched.  The  leaves  are 
2  to  3  inches  long,  and  thickly  sprinkled  with  resin- 
ous atoms.  The  berries  are  black,  shining  and  very 
pleasant.  There  is  a  white  variety  of  this,  found  in 
the  mountains  by  Mr.  Buckley. 

4.  Bear  Huckleberry.  Bearberry.  (G.  ur- 
sina,  Gray.) — Found  on  the  sides  of  the  mountains 
south  of  the  French  Broad  River,  2  to  3  feet  high,  and 
resembling  No.  3.  But  in  the  latter  the  flowers  are 
cylindrical ;  in  the  Bearberry  cup-shaped.  The  berry 
is  purplish  or  dark  red,  insipid  and  dry,  ripening  in 
July  and  August. 

1.  Swamp  Huckleberry.  (Vaccinium  corym- 
bosum,  Linn.) — Abundant  in  swampy  grounds  of  the 
Lower  and  Middle  Districts,  and  probably  extending 
into  the  Upper.  It  is  from  5  to  10  feet  high,  with 
very  variable  leaves,  but  generally  thin,  pale  and 
smooth.  The  berries  are  large,  deep  blue,  subacid 
and  pleasant,  ripening  in  May  and  June. 

There  is  a  variety  of  this  (var:  atrococcum.  Gray), 
having  a  similar  range  and  locality  and  size,  but 
much  less  common,  with  thicker  leaves,  which  are 
white-downy  underneath,  and  with  berries  dark  blue. 
Dr.  Hunter  finds  this  variety  with  a  white  berry  in 
Lincoln  and  Burke  Counties. 


THE    SHRUBS    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA.  141 

^  2.  Pale  Dwarf  Blueberry.  (V.  ConstabLTi, 
Gray.) — About  1  foot  higli,  abundant  on  the  bald 
summit  of  Roan  Mountain  (where  it  was  first  dis- 
criminated by  Prof.  Gray,)  and  not  unlikely  on  others. 
It  is  of  a  pale  whitish  aspect,  with  leaves  1  to  2  inches 
long,  and  blue  sweet  berries. 

3.  (V.  tenellum,  Ait.) — Common  on  the  borders  of 
small  swamps  in  the  Lower  District  and  extending 
somewhat  into  the  Middle ;  about  2  feet  high,  with 
green,  angled  branches.  The  leaves  are  2  to  1  inch 
long,  narrow,  wedge-shaped,  slightly  toothed  at  the 
top,  and  of  a  bright  green.  Berries  black,  small,  of 
little  worth. 

-M:.  Bristly  Huckleberry.  (Y.hirsutum,  Buck- 
ley.)— Discovered  in  the  Cherokee  Mountains  by  Mr. 
Buckle}^  and  easil}^  recognized  by  its  bristly  branches, 
leaves,  flowers  and  fruit. 

"'  5.  Deerberry.  Gooseberry.  (V.  stamineum, 
Linn.) — Very  common  all  over  the  State  in  dry 
woods,  1  to  4  feet  high,  and  very  pretty  when  in 
blossom.  The  berries  are  greenish-white,  sour  and 
astringent,  larger  than  any  other  of  our  Huckle- 
berries. 

-^  6.  (V.  erythrocarpon,  Michx.) — A  shrub  2  to  4  feet 
high,  found  upon  Grandfather,  Flat  Top  and  Roan 
Mountains.  The  leaves  are  rather  liairy  and  with 
small  teeth  on  the  edges.  The  flowers  liave  long  divis- 
ions that  are  rolled  backwards  precisely  like  those  of 
the  Cranberry.  The  fruit  is  small,  reddish  or  purplish, 
and  insipid,  somewhat  like  that  of  the  Bearherry. 


142  THE   SHRUBS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

7.  Sparkleberry.  (V.  arboreum,  Miclix.)  — 
Found  from  the  coast  to  Cherokee,  8  to  20  feet  high, 
the  leaves  smooth,  rather  stiff  and  shining.  They 
are  evergreen,  at  least  in  the  Lower  District.  The 
fruit  is  black  and  small,  dry,  granular  and  slightly 
astringent,  but  of  pleasant  flavor,  ripening  in  Octo- 
ber. When  in  blossom  it  is  quite  a  showy  shrub. 
The  bark  of  the  root  is  very  astringent,  and  is 
used  in  chronic  dysentery. 

8.  Creeping  Huckleberry.  (V.  crassifolium, 
Andr.) — A  small  species  Avith  stems  (1  to  2  feet 
long)  creeping  close  upon  the  earth  in  wet  savannas 
of  the  Lower  District.  The  leaves  are  small,  i  to  i 
inch  long,  evergreen,  thick  and  shining.  The  fruit 
is  red,  becoming  black,  tasteless. 

--  9.  Cranberry.  (V.  macrocarpon.  Ait.) — A  small 
trailing  plant  with  pale  evergreen  leaves,  common  in 
the  mountain  swamps  of  Ashe  and  Yancey,  and  also 
in  Pasquotank,  Hyde  and  other  counties  in  the 
north-eastern  part  of  the  State.  The  fine  acid  fruit 
of  this  plant  is  well  known  and  universally  esteemed. 
Coral  Berry.  (Symphoricarpus  vulgaris,  Michx.) 
— A  small  shrub,  2  to  3  feet  high,  frequent  in  arid 
gravelly  soils,  especially  by  road  sides,  throughout 
the  Middle  District.  The  leaves  are  rather  stiff, 
about  1  inch  long,  downy  beneath.  The  flowers  are 
of  no  beauty,  but  the  compact  clusters  of  dark  red 
berries  in  the  fork  of  nearly  all  the  leaves,  and  which 
hang  on  through  the  Winter,  have  made  it  an  object 
of  attention  among  gardeners  and  florists.     This  is 


THE    SHRUBS    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA.  143 

sometimes  so  much  of  a  nuisance  on  plantations,  on 
account  of  its  creeping  tangled  roots,  as  to  have 
gained  the  uncouth  name  of  DeviVs  shoe-strings. 

Bermuda  or  French  Mulberry.  (Callicarpa 
Americana,  Linn.) — Quite  common  in  light  soils  and 
dry,  open  woods  of  the  Lower  District,  especially 
along  fence-rows  and  the  borders  of  settlements.  It  is 
3  to  6  feet  high,  with  coarse,  rough,  grayish  unsightly 
leaves,  which  are  4  to  5  inches  long  and  round- 
toothed  on  the  edges.  But  in  Winter  the  numerous 
clusters  of  light-purplish  berries  which  encircle  the 
summit  of  the  branches  at  regular  intervals  for  12  or 
18  inches,  give  it  a  very  striking  and  pleasing  appear- 
ance. These  berries  are  juicy,  slightly  aromatic  and 
sweetish,  and  are  sometimes  eaten,  but  are  probably 
not  very  wholesome. 
""^^  Mistletoe.  (Phoradendron  flavescens,  Nutt.) — 
Well  known  throughout  the  State,  and  needing  no 
description.  With  us  it  seems  to  prefer  the  Oaks 
and  Locust^  but  at  the  North  and  West,  Elms  and 
Hickories,  Deer  are  very  fond  of  this  plant.  This 
is  a  different  plant  from  the  European  Mistletoe,  the 
aureus  ramus  of  Virgil. 

1.  High  Blackberry.  (Rubus  villosus,  Ait.) — 
This  is  our  common  Blackberry  of  the  swamps  and 
fallow  lands,  4  to  10  feet  high,  and  the  leaves  slightly 
hairy  or  smooth,  and  green  on  both  sides.  It  is 
found  throughout  the  State.  The  root  of  this  is 
slightly  astringent,  and  is  a  popular  remedy  for 
diarrhoea. 


n 


144  THE    SHRUBS    OF   ^"ORTH   CAROLINA. 

2.  Low  Blackberry.  (R.  cuneifolius,  Piirsli.) — 
Common  in  old  fields  and  by  road  sides  in  the  Lower 
and  Middle  Districts,  2  to  4  feet  high,  the  leaves 
white  and  downy  beneath.  Smaller  in  all  parts  than 
No.  1,  the  berries  generally  sweeter. 

3.  Dewberry.  (R.  trivialis,  Michx.) — Generally 
well  known  under  this  name,  but  most  abundant  in 
the  Middle  District.  This  is  a  trailing  species  with 
smooth  green  leaves,  growing  mostly  in  dry  soils,  and 
with  larger,  sweeter  fruit  than  the  preceding. 

4.  Swamp  Blackberry.  (R  hispidus,  Linn.) — 
A  prostrate  species  like  the  preceding,  found  in  the 
mountain  swamps,  but  every  way  more  delicate,  with 
thinner  leaves,  and  with  weak  prickles  that  hardly 
deserve  the  name.     Fruit  black,  small  and  sour. 

5.  Black  or  Purple  Raspberry.  (R.  occiden- 
talis,  Linn.) — Grows  on  the  borders  of  woods  and  in 
thickets  through  the  Middle  District.  The  fruit  is 
very  pleasant  but  rather  dry,  and  much  inferior  to 
the  cultivated  species. 

6.  Flowering  Raspberry.  (R.  odoratus,  Linn.) 
— Found  only  in  the  mountains  along  rivulets  and  in 
cool,  shaded  ravines.  This  is  without  prickles,  but  is 
covered  with  clammy  hairs,  is  4  to  5  feet  high,  and 
has  leaves  6  to  7  inches  long,  divided  into  about  5 
short  segments.  The  flowers  are  quite  ornamental, 
about  2  inches  broad  and  looking  like  a  small  single 
Rose.  The  fruit  is  broad,  red  and  dry,  but  pleasant 
flavored. 

'     1.    Swamp  Rose.    (Rosa  Carolina,  Linn.)  —  This 


THE  SHKUBS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.     145 

is  from  3  to  6  feet  high,  is  generally  confined  to  low 
damp  grounds,  and  has  stout,  Jioohed  prickles. 
\^       2.   Wild  or  Dwarf  Rose.    (R.  lucida,  Ehrh.) — 
f\     Generally  prefers  dry  soils,  and  is  found  in  all  the 
Districts.    It  is  about  half  the  size  of  No.  1,  has  the 
leaves  shining  on  the   upper  side,  and  has  straight 
prickles,  which  will  distinguish  it  from  the  preceding. 
3.   Sweet  Brier.    (R.  rubiginosa,  Linn.)  —  Ex- 
tensively naturalized  along  roads  and  about  settle- 
ments, especially  in  the  Middle  District,  and  easily 
recognized  by  the  pleasant  fragrance  derived  from 
the  rusty   colored   glands  on  the  underside  of  the 
,    leaves.     This  is  sometimes  known  as  the  Eglantine. 
^     4.   Cherokee  Rose.  (R.  hievigata,  Michx.) — Cul- 
'     tivated  in   the   Lower   and  Middle  Districts,   often 
trained  over  fences,   and,  if  well  managed,   serves 
well  for  hedging.     It  is  remarkable  for  its  smooth, 
dark,  evergreen  leaves  and  white  single  flowers.     It 
is  singular  that  the  native  region  of  this  Rose  is 
unknown. 
^    1.   Elder.    (Sambucus  Canadensis,  Linn.) — There 
is  no  portion  of  the  State,  except  the  higher  parts  of 
the  Mountains,  where  this  shrub  is  not  found.     Its 
leaves  are  smooth  and  its  berries  dark  purple.     Tlie 
inner  bark  is  of  popular  use  in  ointments  for  sores. 
An  infusion  of  the  leaves  is  sometimes  used  for  ex- 
pelling insects  from  vines,  &c.     An  infusion  of  the 
dried  flowers  is  a  domestic  remedy  for  colds.     The* 
ripe  berries  afford  a  delicate  test  for  detecting  acids 
and  alkalies. 


ff' 


^ 


146  THE    SHRUBS    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

2.  Red-Berried  Elder.  (S.  pubens,  Michx.)  — 
Grows  only  on  the  higher  Mountains  above  the 
range  of  the  preceding,  from  which  it  is  at  once  dis- 
tinguished by  its  red  berries  and  the  downy  under- 
side of  its  leaves.  It  belongs  chiefly  to  a  high  lati- 
tude. 

1.  Black  Haw.  (Viburnum  prunifolium,  Linn.) 
— Common  in  rather  dry  rich  soils  from  the  coast  to 
'jy.  the  lower  part  of  the  Upper  District,  8  to  15  feet 
high,  handsome  when  in  flower.  The  blossoms  are 
small,  white,  in  flat  clusters,  which  are  two  or  three 
inches  broad,  and  destitute  of  a  common  stem.  The 
leaves,  1  or  2  inches  long,  are  smooth  and  shining 
above.  The  fruit  is  about  half  an  inch  long,  bluish- 
black,  sweetish  and  eatable. 
y  2.  Possum  Haw.  (V.  nudum,  Linn.)  —  Has  a 
similar  range  with  No.  1,  and  grows  in  cold  swampy 
grounds,  6  to  12  feet  high.  The  flower-clusters  in 
this  are  supported  on  a  short  common  stem.  The 
leaves  are  larger  and  of  thicker  texture  than  in  the 
former,  dull  green  above,  and  covered  with  rusty 
scales  beneath.  The  fruit  is  a  deep  blue.  In  the 
Mountains  I  have  heard  this  called  Shawnee  Haw. 

There  is  a  form  of  this  (var:  angustifolium),  with 
smaller,  narrower,  and  brighter  leaves,  which  I  have 
met  with  in  Henderson  County. 
.  3.  (V.  obovatum,  Walt.)  —  A  shrub  or  small  tree, 
growing  on  the  banks  of  streams,  but  not  common 
in  this  State.  The  leaves  are  i  to  1  inch  long,  rather 
thick,  smooth,  broader  at  the  upper  end,  and  faintly 


THE    SHRUBS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  147 

toothed.     The  flower-clusters  are  without  a  general 
stem.     The  fruit  is  black. 

4.  Sheep  Berry.  (V.  Lentago,  Linn.)  —  Found 
only  in  the  Mountains,  10  or  15  feet  high.  The 
leaves  are  rather  thin,  3  to  4  inches  long,  smooth, 
with  a  tapering  point,  sharply  toothed,  their  stem 
and  middle  nerve  beneath,  together  with  the  flower 
branches,  sprinkled  with  rusty  atoms.  The  fruit  is 
first  red,  then  bluish-black,  and  is  eatable  when  fully 
ripe. 

5.  Arrow-wood.  (V.  dentatum,  Linn.) — Grows 
in  low  grounds  of  the  Lower  and  Middle  Districts, 
but  is  not  very  common.  It  is  8  to  12  feet  high, 
with  ash-colored  bark,  and  by  the  flowers  and  fruit 
would  be  at  once  recognized  as  belonging  to  the 
same  genus  as  Nos.  1  and  2.  The  leaves  are  round- 
ish, 2  or  3  inches  long,  coarsely  and  sharply  toothed, 
thin  and  smooth,  the  lateral  veins  quite  straight,  and 
deeply  impressed  above.  The  fruit  is  roundish  and 
deep  blue,  and  slightly  rough.  The  young  straight 
branches  of  this  were  used  by  the  Lidians  for  mak- 
ing arrows. 

6.  Downy  Arrow-wood.  (V.  pubescens,  Pursh.) 
—  Very  similar  to  No.  5,  but  smaller,  3  or  4  feet 
high,  the  underside  of  the  leaves  down}',  and  grow- 
ing only  in  the  rocky  soil  of  the  Mountains. 

7.  Maple-leaved  Arrow- wood.  (V.  acerifo- 
lium,  Linn.) — A  shrub  2  to  5  feet  liigh,  found  in  the 
Mountains  and  on  rocky  liills  of  the  Middle  District,  as 
low  down  as  Orange,  with  leaves  3  or  4  inches  long. 


148  THE   SHRUBS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

shaped  like  those  of  a  Maple.  The  berries  are  whitish, 
becoming  purplish-black.  The  slender  stems,  by  re- 
moving the  pith,  make  good  fuse-sticks  for  blasting, 
and  will  serveeqnally  well  for  blasts'of  tobacco-smoke. 
8.  HoBBLE-BusH.  Tangle-Legs.  (V.  lantanoides, 
Michx.) — A  small  straggling  shrub  found  in  cold, 
damp  places  in  the  Mountains.  The  branches  spread 
upon  the  ground,  and,  taking  root  at  their  ends,  form 
well  secured  loops  for  tripping  the  feet  of  inexperi- 
enced wayfarers;  a  habit  which  has  been  revenged 
upon  by  the  unlucky,  in  the  names  imposed  upon  it 
of  American  Wayfarer  s  Tree  and  the  DeviVs  Shoe- 
strings. The  leaves  are  3  to  6  inches  broad,  heart- 
shaped,  very  veiny,  the  underside  having  a  rusty 
down.  The  berries  are  first  crimson,  then  black. 
The  flowers  on  the  margin  of  the  broad  clusters  of 
this  species  are  very  large  (by  abortion),  like  those 
of  the  well-known  Snow-ball  of  our  Gardens,  which 
is  a  species  (V.  Opulus)  of  this  genus. 
^  Prickly  Ash.  (Aralia  spinosa,  Linn.)  —  Found 
in  tolerably  rich  soil  from  the  coast  to  Cherokee,  but 
not  very  abundant  in  any  locality.  It  is  seldom  20 
feet  high  with  us,  and  is  remarkable  for  its  straight, 
club-shaped,  prickly  stem  or  trunk,  with  the  com- 
pound leaves  spreading  like  those  of  a  Palm  from  its 
summit.  An  infusion  of  the  fresh  bark  of  the  root 
is  emetic  and  cathartic,  and  is  employed,  as  are  also 
the  berries,  in  spiritous  infusion,  in  rheumatic  affec- 
tions. These  are  thought  by  some  to  be  also  a  valu- 
able remedy  for  the  bite  of  a  rattlesnake. 


THE   SHRUBS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  149 

'  Privet.  (Ligustrum  viilgare,  Linn.)  —  Occasion- 
ally naturalized  about  settlements.  Berries  black. 
This  is  suited  for  low  hedges. 

1.  Spice  Bush.  (Benzoin  odoriferum,  Nees.)  — 
Known  also  as  Spice  Wood,  Wild  Allspice.,  and  Fever 
Bush.  Grows  in  damp  woods  throughout  the  State, 
and,  wherever  found,  known  under  one  or  other  of 
these  names.  It  is  a  strongly  scented  shrub,  smooth, 
3  to  6  feet  high,  with  dark  red  berries,  and  leaves  3 
or  4  inches  long.  An  infusion  of  the  twigs  is  some- 
times used  in  country  fevers,  and  for  sickly  cattle  in 
the  Spring. 

2.  (B.  melissaefolium,  Nees.)  —  Belongs  to  tlie 
Lower  and  Middle  Districts  in  low  grounds  and  on 
the  borders  of  shallow  ponds,  2  or  3  feet  high,  leaves 
silky  on  both  sides,  1  or  2  inches  long,  slightly  heart- 
shaped  ;  berries  red.  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  McRee 
and  Prof.  Mitchell  for  my  knowledge  of  this  species. 

Pond  Bush.  (Tetranthera  geniculata,  Nees.)  — 
Occupies  small  ponds  in  the  Lower  District,  giving 
a  gray  smoky  aspect  to  these  localities.  It  is  rarely 
met  with  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Middle  District. 
It  is  10  or  15  feet  high,  with  smooth,  zigzag  branches, 
and  small  oval  leaves,  i  to  1  inch  long,  and  red 
berries. 

This  and  the  genus  next  preceding  are  closely 
related  to  the  Sassafras,  and,  like  it,  have  small  3'el- 
lowish  flowers  which  appear  before  the  leaves. 

Leather-wood.  (Dirca  palustris,  Linn.) — Widely 
diffused  over  the  country,  but  in  this  State  occurring 


150  THE   SHRUBS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

sparingly  upon  shaded  rivulets  in  the  Middle  and 
Upper  Districts.  It  is  3  to  5  feet  high,  and  the 
branches  have  such  a  tough  and  pliable  bark  that 
they  make  excellent  ligatures,  for  which  they  were 
used  by  the  Indians,  and  from  which  the  shrub  de- 

:;  rives  its  name.  The  fruit  is  a  small  reddish  berry. 
Carolina  Buckthorn.  (Frangula  Caroliniana, 
Gray.) — A  thornless  shrub,  4  to  6  feet  high,  belong- 
ing to  moderately  fertile  soils  in  the  Middle  and 
Lower  Districts,  but  rare  in  the  latter.  The  leaves  are 
3  or  4  inches  long,  1  or  2  wide,  dark  green,  smooth  and 
shining,  and  ribbed  with  very  straight  parallel  veins. 
The  berry  is  blackish,  of  the  size  of  a  small  pea. 

V  1.  Sumach.  (Rhus  copallina,  Linn.) — Very  com- 
mon throughout  the  State,  usually  6  to  10  feet  high, 
sometimes  a  small  tree  15  feet  high,  readily  distin- 
guished by  its  common  leaf-stem  being  margined  or 
winged  between  the  leaflets.  The  crimson  hairs  on 
the  berries  possess  a  strong  acid,  (said  to  be  Malic,) 
an  infusion  of  which,  with  sugar,  makes  an  agreeable 
cooling  beverage,  and,  without  sugar,  is  a  very  use- 
ful gargle  for  weak  or  sore  throats. 

2.  Smooth  Sumach.  (R.  glabra,  Linn.) — This  is 
6  to  10  feet  high,  growing  in  the  Middle  and  Upper 
Districts,  and  is  remarkably  smooth  in  all  its  parts.  A 
milky  juice  issues  from  the  wounded  bark.  The  large 
clusters  of  red  fruit  are  more  compact  than  in  No.  1, 
having  an  acid  secretion  as  in  that.  The  branches 
and  leaves  are  astringent,  and  are  used  for  tanning. 

3.  Staghorn  Sumach.     (R  typhina,  Linn.) — Be- 


THE   SHRUBS    OP    NORTH   CAROLINA.  151 

longs  to  the  Upper  District,  10  to  20  feet  high,  the 
branches  and  flower  stalks  densely  and  rather  softly 
hairy,  soniewhat  like  a  Deer's  horn  "  in  the  velvet." 
The  leaflets  are  narrow  and  tapering.  The  bark  issues 
a  milky  juice,  and  the  berries  are  acid,  as  in  No.  2. 
The  wood  is  orange  colored  and  aromatic.  The  bark 
and  branches  are  used  for  tanning.  The  large  clusters 
of  purple  fruit,  and  a  fine  foliage,  render  this  species 
quite  ornamental. 

4.  Dwarf  Sumach.  (R.  pumila,  Michx.)— This 
has  a  general  resemblance  to  No.  3,  especially  in  the 
dense  hairiness  of  the  young  branches,  but  the  leaflets 
in  this  are  much  shorter,  broader  and  more  coarsely 
toothed,  and  the  plant  is  only  1  to  3  feet  high,  mostly 
spreading  over  the  ground.  It  is  rather  rare,  but  oc- 
curs in  the  Lower  and  Middle  Districts,  especially  in 
Mecklenburg,  where  it  was  originally  discovered  by 
the  elder  Michaux.  Pursh  has  represented  it  as  be- 
ing very  poisonous,  but  it  is  perfectly  harmless,  as 
are  all  the  preceding  species. 

5.  Poison  Sumach.  (R.  venenata,  DC.) — Found 
in  all  the  Districts  in  cool  swampy  situations,  where 
it  is  somewhat  conspicuous  by  its  smooth  green  bark 
and  pink-colored  leaf-stems.  To  most  persons  it  is 
exceedingly  poisonous,  some  even  being  aflected  by 
proximity  to  it,  especially  while  rain  or  dew  is  evap- 
orating from  it.  Others,  however,  can  handle  it  with 
safety.  The  juice  of  this  is  a  good  varnish,  like  tliat 
of  the  Japan  Sumach  (R.  vernicifera),  which  is  a  very 
similar  and  was  once  supposed  to  be  the  same  species. 


152  THE   SHRUBS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

6.  Poison  Oak.  (R.  Toxicodendron,  Linn.) — A 
small  shrub,  1  to  2  feet  high,  well  known  by  this  name 
from  the.  coast  to  the  lower  part  of  the  Upper  District. 
It  is  less  poisonous  than  No.  5,  but  is  too  mischievous 
to  be  meddled  with  by  persons  who  are  sensitive  to 
this  chiss  of  poisons.  The  juice  is  an  indelible  ink 
upon  linen. 

It  has  been  stated  very  positively  in  some  quarters 
that  the  dreaded  disease,  known  in  our  Mountains 
and  at  the  West  by  the  name  of  Milk  Sickness,  is 
caused  by  the  cattle  eating  of  this  Poison  Oak.  But 
our  Lower  and  Middle  Districts  abound  in  this  plant, 
where  this  disease  is  not  now  heard  of,  while  in  those 
portions  of  the  Mountains  where  cattle  are  affected 
with  it,  and  which  I  have  examined  with  special  ref- 
erence to  ascertaining  its  origin,  this  plant  is  not 
found,  nor  any  other  poisonous  plant  which  is  not 
common  elsewhere.  Besides,  it  is  well  known  that 
cattle  do  not  take  the  disease  if  kept  from  those 
grounds  till  the  dew  has  evaporated.  Its  cause  is  yet 
a  mystery,  but  I  am  satisfied  it  is  telluric. 

The  Mountain  Tea  or  Wi^itergreen^  (Gaultheria 
procumbens,  Linn.)  so  well  known  in  the  Mountains, 
rarely  in  the  other  Districts,  for  its  aromatic  spicy 
leaves  and  berries,  is  an  evergreen  shrub,  but  so  small 
that  it  would  not  generally  be  considered  such. 

The  next  two  genera  have  a  fleshy  fruit,  but  too 
large  to  come  under  the  class  of  Berries.  They  are 
well  known  by  their  names. 

1.  Papaw.     (Asimina  triloba,   Dunal.) — Not  un- 


THE    SHRUBS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  153 

common  in  rich  bottom  lands  of  the  Middle  District, 
10  to  15  feet  high,  but  in  the  primitive  soil  of  the 
Western  States  sometimes  30  feet.  The  flowers  are 
dull  dark-purple,  over  an  inch  wide.  The  fruit  is 
about  3  inches  long  by  1^  thick,  yellow,  and  filled 
with  a  soft  sweet  pulp  which  is  edible,  but  does  not 
seem  to  be  agreeable  to  most  persons.  The  bark  of 
the  trunk  and  root  exhales  a  very  heavy  unpleasant 
odor.     The  wood  is  remarkably  light  and  spongy. 

2.  Dwarf  Papaw.  (A.  parviflora,  Dunal.) — A 
small  shrub  similar  to  No.  1,  but  smaller  every  way, 
found  in  waste  grounds  in  the  Lower  District,  and  in 
thin  woods  of  the  Middle  and  lower  part  of  the  Up- 
per District.  It  is  from  2  to  5  feet  high,  the  leaves 
4  to  6  inches  long,  (about  half  the  size  of  the  pre- 
ceding,) the  greenish-purple  flowers  i  inch  long  and 
of  unpleasant  odor.  Fruit  in  clusters,  about  an  inch 
long. 

1.  Spanish  Bayonet.  (Yucca  aloifolia,  Linn.) — 
A  native  of  the  coast  from  North  Carolina  south'^vard, 
frequently  cultivated  in  the  Lower  District,  and  very 
showy  when  capped  by  its  large  cluster  of  white  bell- 
shaped  flowers.  It  is  4  to  8  feet  high,  its  stiff  leaves 
(12  or  18  inches  long)  tipped  with  a  very  sharp 
thorny  point,  and  their  edges  very  rough. 

2.  (Y.  gloriosa,  Linn.) — Found  also  on  the  sand}^ 
coast,  similar  to  the  preceding,  but  smaller,  and  the 
leaves  smooth  on  the  edges. 

V       3.  Bear  Grass.     (Y.  filamentosa,  Linn.) — Com- 
mon in  sandy  fields  nearly  throughout  the  State,  well 


154  THE    SHRUBS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

known  bj  the  tliread-like  filaments  on  the  edges  of 
the  leaves,  and  admired  for  the  beauty  of  its  flowers, 
borne  in  clusters  upon  a  naked  stem  4  to  6  feet  high. 

The  two  next  genera  w^ould  be  most  generally 
ranked  among  Stone-fruit^  though  the  shell  of  tlie 
second  is  very  thin,  and  covered  by  a  very  thin  flesh. 

Fringe  Tree.  (Chionanthus  Virginica,  Linn.) — - 
Sometimes  called  Old  Mans  Beard.  We  have  no 
shrub  of  softer  and  more  delicate  beauty  than  this, 
when  draped  in  its  clusters  of  snow-white,  fringe-like 
flowers.  It  is  found  northward  to  southern  Pennsyl- 
vania. In  this  State  it  grows  in  all  the  Districts,  but 
most  abundantly  in  the  Middle.  It  is  sometimes  15 
to  20  feet  high,  but  flowers  at  the  height  of  2  or  3 
feet.  Its  fruit  has  the  appearance  and  odor  of  a  green 
plum,  but  I  have  never  seen  it  produce  fruit  in  the 
Lower  District.  An  infusion  of  the  roots  is  a  favor- 
ite remedy  in  long  standing  intermittents  and  other 
chronic  diseases. 
-4  Oil-nut.  Buffalo  Tree.  (Pyrularia  oleifera, 
Gray.) — A  bush  3  to  6  feet  high,  abundant  through 
our  mountain  range,  and  reaching  north  to  the 
mountains  of  Pennsylvania.  The  leaves  are  8  to  4 
inches  long,  becoming  smooth,  rather  acrid  to  the 
taste,  and  oily.  The  fruit  is  an  inch  or  more  long, 
pear-shaped  or  roundish,  with  a  thin  ghell  and  large 
oily  kernel.     The  root  has  an  unpleasant  odor. 

The  remaining  Shrubs,  including  those  with  Nuts, 
are  Dry-fruited  and  very  various.  The  first  Group 
will  include  such  as  have^  dry  seed-covers,  containing 


THE    SHRUBS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA.  155 

small  seeds  and  opening  by  partitions.  The  first 
three  genera  have  tubular  small  flowers  like  those  of 
the  Huckleberry  and  Sorrel  Tree. 

1.  Fetter-Bush.     (Andromeda  nitida,  Bartr.) — 
Found  only  in  the  Lower  District  in  low  Pine  bar- 
rens.    It  is  2  to  5  feet  high,  with  the  branches  three- 
angled,  smooth  throughout ;  the  leaves  evergreen  and 
shining  and  rather   thick,   1  to   2  inches   long,    not 
toothed;  the  flowers  clustered  in   the   forks    of  the 
leaves,  white  or  reddish,  with  a  sort  of  honey  odor, 
opening  in  March  and  April. 
L^       2.  Stagger-Bush.     (A.  Mariana,  Linn.) — Grows 
"'^    in  the  Lower  and  Middle  Districts,  on  the  margin  of 
low  grounds.     It  is  2  to   3  feet  high   and  smooth. 
The  leaves  are  1  to  2  inches  long,  not  toothed,  dull 
green ;  the  flowering  branches  generally  destitute  of 
leaves;  the  flowers  in  clusters  along  the  branches, 
near  i  inch  long,  white  and  showy,  opening  in  April 
and  May. 
'jL       3.  (A.  speciosa,  Michx.) — A  very  handsome  shrub 
\^  growing  in  low  wet  grounds  of  Pine  barrens  in  the 
Lower  District,  2  to  5  feet  high  and  smooth.     The 
leaves  are  1   to  li  inch  long,   toothed,    dull   green, 
sometimes  covered  on  the  underside  with  a  very  white 
bloom.     The  flowering  branches  are  free  from  leaves, 
6  to  12  inches  long   and   very  showy.     The  flowers 
are  larger  than  in  No.  2,  more  bell-shaped,  opening  in 
I  ^   May. 

^  4.  Pepper-Bush.     (A.  ligustrina,  Muhl.) — This 

occurs  in  all  the  Districts,  but  only  in  the  lower  part 


■i 


156  THE   SHRUBS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

of  the  Upper.  It  is  3  to  4  feet  high,  somewhat  hairy. 
The  leaves  are  about  2  inches  long,  sharp  pointed, 
finely  toothed,  paler  underside.  The  flowers  are 
small,  almost  globular,  scurfy,  in  small  clusters  that 
are  leafy. 
^  5.  (A.  floribunda,  Pursh.) — Rather  rare,  and  be- 
longing to  the  mountains,  4  to  8  feet  high,  the 
younger  branches  reddish  and  covered  with  scattered 
stiff  hairs  and  glandular  dots.  The  leaves  are  1  to 
li  inch  long,  evergreen  and  rigid,  rounded  at  base, 
sharp  at  top,  minutely  scalloped,  the  youngest  with 
short  hairs  on  the  margin ;  flowers  in  crowded  leafy 
clusters. 

-^  1.  Dog  Laurel.  (Leucothoe  Catesbsei,  Gray.) — 
Found  only  in  the  mountains,  where  it  is  also  called 
Hemlock,  growing  on  the  cool  margins  of  streams. 
It  is  2  to  4  feet  high,  the  leaves  evergreen,  3  to  5 
inches  long  and  1  inch  broad,  with  a  long  tapering 
point,  prickly-toothed  on  the  edges.  Clusters  of  flow- 
ers in  the  forks  of  the  leaves.  A  very  pretty  shrub. 
2.  (L.  axillaris,  Don.) — On  the  borders  of  streams 
and  wet  places  in  the  Lower  District,  and  very  much 
like  No.  1.  But  the  leaves  are  less  prickly-toothed, 
less  tapering,  2  to  3  inches  long,  broader  than  in  the 
preceding,  the  clusters  of  flowers  longer,  and  the 
flowers  longer. 

-iw  3.  (L.  racemosa.  Gray.) — Grows  from  the  coast  to 
the  base  of  the  mountains,  4  to  8  feet  high,  on  the 
borders  of  wet  places.  The  leaves  are  rather  thin, 
acute,  finely  toothed,  1  to  li  inch  long.     The  flowers 


THE    SHRUBS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA.  157 

(i  inch  long)  are  on  terminal  straight  branchlets,  all 
hanging  to  one  side,  and  looking  like  rows  of  teeth, 
the  rows  being  2  or  3  inches  long. 
-^4.  (L.  recurva.  Gray.) — Discovered  by  Mr.  Buckley 
in  the  mountains  near  Paint  Rock.  It  is  3  to  4  feet 
high,  the  leaf  and  flower-branches  recurved;  the 
leaves  broader  and  more  hairy  than  in  No.  3,  rounded 
at  base,  finely  toothed,  scarcely  tapering,  2  to  3  inches 
long,  deciduous  as  in  No.  3. 

(Cassandra  calyculata,  Don.) — A  small  shrub,  2  to 
3  feet  high,  growing  in  damp  grounds  of  the  Lower 
District,  and  not  unlikely  in  the  others.  The  ever- 
green leaves  are  about  1  inch  long,  J  inch  wide,  finely 
toothed,  rather  stiff,  and  covered,  like  the  young 
branches,  with  small  white  scales.  The  flowers  are 
on  terminal  branchlets,  quite  small,  solitary  in  the 
forks  of  small  leaves. 

1.  Laurel.  (Rhododendron  maximum,  Linn.) — 
This  is  rare  north  of  Pennsylvania,  but  becomes 
abundant  southward  in  the  Alleghanies,  and  is  com- 
mon through  their  whole  range  in  this  State,  where 
it  often  forms  impenetrable  thickets,  many  acres  in 
extent.  It  also  grows  upon  rocky  hills  in  the  Mid- 
dle District  as  far  east  as  Orange.  Its  usual  height 
is  8  to  10  feet,  but  is  sometimes  as  high  as  20  feet. 
This  is  a  production  of  great  beauty  and  universally 
admired.  The  flowers,  about  an  incli  broad,  grow  in 
compact  clusters  on  the  ends  of  the  branches,  and  are 
generally  of  a  pale  rose  color,  but  sometimes  whitish, 
dotted  with  green  and  yellow  on  the  inside.     Thef^e 


158  THE   SHRUBS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

contrast  pleasingly  with  the  large  thick  evergreen 
leaves.  The  leaves  and  flowers  are  reputed  poison- 
ous. The  wood  is  very  hard  and  fine  grained,  but 
not  equal  to  that  of  Ivy. 

2.  Oval-Leaved  Laurel.  (R.  Catawbiense, 
Michx.) — This  splendid  Laurel  is  chiefly  confined  to 
the  highest  summits  of  our  mountains,  but  is  said  to 
extend  somewhat  into  Virginia.  It  is  often  con- 
founded with  the  preceding,  but  besides  its  different 
locality,  growing  only  on  the  tops  of  such  mountains 
as  the  Roan  in  Yancey  and  Negro  Mountain  in  Ashe, 
it  blossoms  earlier  than  the  other,  though  at  a  higher 
elevation,  has  larger  and  more  intensely  colored  flow- 
ers, and  shorter  and  broader  leaves.  It  is  6  to  8  feet 
high,  and  handsomer  than  No.  1.  It  stands  cultiva- 
tion pretty  well  in  the  Middle  District. 

,  3.  Dwarf  Laurel.  (R.  punctatum,  Andr.) — A 
rusty  looking  shrub,  1  to  2  feet  high,  chiefly  confined 
to  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina  and  Georgia.  It 
has  a  strong  family  likeness  to  the  other  species,  but 
is  too  inferior  to  them  in  every  respect  to  attract  or 
deserve  much  attention.  I  have  met  with  it  only  on 
Table  Rock,  Jonas'  Ridge  and  Whiteside  Mountain. 

1.  Smooth  Honeysuckle.  (Azalea  arborescens, 
Pursh.) — Found  only  along  water  courses  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  Upper  District,  and  is  4  to  10  feet 
high.  It  is  similar  to  the  next,  a  common  and  well 
known  species ;  but  this  has  smooth  branchlets, 
leaves  of  brighter  green  above,  and  long  calyx  ap- 
pendages at  the  base  of  the  flower.     The  flowers  are 


THE   SHRUBS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  159 

white  and  roseate,  and  their  odor  may  be  perceived 
at  a  great  distance ;  this  being  the  most  powerfully 
fragrant  of  our  Honeysuckles.  For  cultivation  this 
will  rank  next  in  beauty  to  the  Yellow  Honeysuckle. 
I-^TK^  2.  Clammy  Honeysuckle.  (A.  viscosa,  Linn.) 
^^  — Very  common  through  the  State,  2  to  6  or  8  feet 
high,  the  branchlets  bristly,  and  the  flowers  covered 
with  clammy  hairs.  The  flowers  are  white  or  flesh- 
colored  and  very  fragrant.  In  this  and  No.  1  the 
flowers  appear  after  the  leaves  have  expanded.  In 
the  next  two  species  they  appear  before  or  with  the 
leaves. 

A  variety  of  this  (var :  glauca)  occurs  with  paler 
and  rougher  leaves,  their  underside  covered  with  a 
white  bloom. 
p-r  "^^  3.  Purple  Honeysuckle.  (A.  nudiflora,  Linn.) 
V  — Very  common  in  great  varieties  of  soil  through 
the  State,  2  to  6  feet  high,  but  usually  very  small  in 
poor  dry  soils.  The  flowers  vary  from  a  flesh-color 
to  pink  or  purple,  and  are  sometimes  quite  white. 
They  are  destitute  of  fragrance. 
^  4.  Yellow  Honeysuckle.  (A.  calendulacea, 
Michx.) — This  is  found  only  at  a  considerable  eleva- 
tion on  our  mountains,  where  it  is  abundant  and 
well  known  by  the  name  here  given.  It  is  com- 
monly from  3  to  6  feet  high,  and  varies  very  much  in 
the  color  of  its  flowers,  but  most  frequently  they  are 
some  shade  of  yellow.  Bartram,  in  his  "  Travels," 
calls  this  the  Fieri/  Azalea,  and  says  :  "  This  epithet 
Fieri/    I  annex    to  this   most    celebrated    species   of 


160  THE   SHRUBS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

Azalea^  as  being  expressive  of  the  appearance  of  its 
flowers,  which  are  in  general  of  the  color  of  the  finest 
red  lead,  orange  and  bright  gold,  as  well  as  yellow 
and  cream  color.  These  various  splendid  colors  are 
not  only  in  separate  plants,  but  frequently  all  the 
varieties  and  shades  are  seen  in  separate  branches  on 
the  same  plant,  and  the  clusters  of  blossoms  cover 
the  shrubs  in  such  incredible  profusion  on  the  hill- 
sides, that  suddenly  opening  to  view  from  dark 
shades,  we  are  alarmed  with  the  apprehension  of  the 
woods  being  set  on  fire.  This  is  certainly  the  most 
gay  and  brilliant  flowering  shrub  yet  known." 

1.  Ivy.  '  (Kalmia  latifolia,  Linn.) — A  beautiful 
shrub  known  from  New  England  to  Georgia,  either 
by  the  above  name,  or  as  Laiu^el,  Mountain  Laurel 
and  Calico  Bush.  In  this  State  it  is  known  under 
the  first  and  last  names,  the  first  being  most  in  use. 
It  is  most  abundant  in  the  mountains,  but  is  found 
along  streams  and  on  rocky  hills  of  the  Middle  Dis- 
trict, extending  somewhat  into  the  Lower,  even  into 
the  Dismal  Swamp.  This,  in  combination  with  the 
Laurel^  which  often  accompanies  it  and  blossoms  at 
the  same  time,  presents  a  scene  of  floral  beauty  rarely 
equaled  in  this  country.  Like  the  Laurel,  this  is  an 
evergreen,  and  forms  also  impenetrable  thickets,  but 
its  leaves  are  shining,  much  darker  and  smaller.  It 
is  10  to  15  and  even  20  feet  high. 

The  leaves  are  poisonous  to  cattle,  and  a  snuff 
made  from  them  is  a  powerful  sternutatory.  An 
ointment  made  from  the  powdered  leaves  has  been 


THE   SHRUBS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  161 

successfully  used  for  scald  heads.  The  wood,  par- 
ticularly of  the  roots,  is  exceedingly  hard,  fine- 
grained, marked  with  red  lines,  and  capable  of  a 
good  polish.  We  have  hardly  any  wood  better 
adapted  for  the  handles  of  tools,  small  screws,  and 
similar  articles.  This  and  the  Laurels  can  be  raised 
from  seeds. 

2.  WiCKY.  (K.  angustifolia,  Linn.) — This  has  an 
extensive  range  over  the  United  States.  In  this 
State  it  is  common  on  the  small  Pine-barren  swamps 
of  the  Lower  Districts,  but  is  rare  in  the  others.  It 
is  1  to  3  feet  high  ;  the  leaves  are  1  to  2  inches  long 
and  i  inch  wide,  pale  green,  paler  underneath  ;  the 
flowers  roseate  or  crimson,  about  i  inch  broad,  being 
one-third  the  size  of  the  preceding,  but  of  the  same 
elegant  form,  and  growing  in  clusters  along  the 
branches.  This  is  a  beautiful  undershrub  and  is 
greatly  improved  by  cultivation.  It  is  a  poisonous 
plant,  especially  to  sheep,  and  is  in  some  places  called 
Sheep  Laurel.  A  decoction'  of  the  leaves  is  a  domes- 
tic remedy  for  cutaneous  diseases  in  man  and  beast. 
•^"3.  (K.  cuneata,  Michx.) — Similar  to  the  Wichy^ 
found  in  the  Lower  District,  but  very  rare.  It  may 
be  distinguished  from  that  by  the  flowers  being 
white  at  top  and  red  at  bottom,  and  by  the  leaves 
being  scattered  along  the  branches,  instead  of  grow- 
ing in  circles  of  three,  as  in  No.  2. 
^  Sand  Myrtle.  (Leiophyllum  buxifolium.  Ell.) 
— A  small  evergreen  shrub,  6  to  12  inches  liigh, 
looking  somewhat  like  the   Garden  Box.,  with  small, 


162  THE    SHRUBS    OF   KORTH    CAROLINA. 

dark  green  leaves,  and  small  white  flowers  clustered 
on  the  ends  of  the  branches.  It  grows  in  sandj 
woods  of  Brunswick  County,  and  on  the  rocky  sum- 
mits of  our  mountains,  from  the  Grandfather  to 
Whiteside. 

'>  False  Heath.  (Menziesia  globularis,  Salisb.) — 
Common  on  the  higher  mountains,  3  to  6  feet  high, 
with  thin,  hairy,  deciduous  leaves,  and  small,  reddish, 
bell-shaped  flowers,  like  those  of  a  Huckleherry^  and 
a  small,  woody  seed-vessel,  like  those  of  Andro- 
meda^ etc. 

1.  White  Alder.  Sweet  Pepper-Bush.  (Cle- 
thra  alnifolia,  Linn.) — Grows  near  damp  places  in 
the  Lower  and  Middle  Districts,  2  to  4  feet  high. 
The  leaves  are  a  little  like  those  of  the  common 
Alder^  but  are  smaller  and  narrower.  The  flowers 
are  small,  white,  and  very  fragrant,  terminating  the 
branches  in  racemes  which  are  2  to  3  inches  long. 
A  form  of  this  (var :  tomentosa)  has  leaves  with  a 
white  down  on  the  underside. 

"<  2.  Mountain  Pepper-Bush.  (C.  acuminata, 
Michx.) — Quite  an  ornamental  shrub,  10  to  15  feet 
high,  growing  in  the  mountains  from  Ashe  to  Chero- 
kee. Its  leaves  are  thin,  pointed,  fine-toothed,  and 
5  to  6  inches  long.  The  racemes  of  white  flowers 
are  larger  than  in  No.  1,  and  drooping. 
'^»(Itea  Virginica,  Linn.) — At  a  little  distance  this 
has  some  resemblance  to  the  White  Aldei\  but  with  a 
smoother  aspect,  and  the  flowers  are  not  fragrant. 
It  belongs   to  the   borders  of   wet  places  from  the 


THE   SHRUBS    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA.  163 

coast  to  Lincoln,  is  4  to  8  feet  high,  and  has  small 
white  flowers  in  drooping  racemes,  which  are  3  to  5 
inches  long  on  the  ends  of  the  branches. 

1.  Wild  Hydrangea.  (Hydrangea  arborescens, 
Linn.) — A  smooth  shrub,  2  to  5  feet  high,  growing 
along  streams  and  on  mountain  and  hill  sides  of  the 
Upper  and  Middle  Districts.  The  leaves  are  3  to  5 
inches  long,  heart-shaped,  pointed,  toothed.  The 
flowers  are  whitish,  in  flat-topped  clusters,  some  of 
those  on  the  margin  being  large  and  showy  like  those 
of  the  cultivated  Hydrangea. 

V  2.  Snowy  Hydrangea.  (H.  radiata,  Walt.)  — 
Found  only  on  the  mountains  west  of  the  Blue 
Ridge  from  Yancey  to  Georgia.  North  of  this  it  has 
not,  I  think,  been  detected.  It  is  from  3  to  6  or  8 
feet  high.  The  leaves  are  heart-shaped,  4  to  6  inches 
long,  the  underside  clothed  with  a  thick,  silvery- 
white  down.  The  barren  flowers,  which  give  this 
genus  the  peculiarity  for  which  it  is  admired,  are  in 
this  species  found  only  around  the  border  of  the  flat- 
topped  cluster,  but  are  said  to  become  much  more 
abundant  in  cultivation.  They  are  of  a  pure  white, 
an  inch  or  more  broad.  This  pretty  shrub  would  be 
much  prized  in  gardens,  if  there  were  not  some  more 
showy  species  in  cultivation. 

n:  1.  Syringa.  (Philadelphus  grandiflorus,  Willd.) 
— This  very  ornamental  shrub,  now  common  in  our 
yards  and  gardens,  prized  for  its  graceful,  slender 
branches  and  snow-white  flowers,  does  not  appear  to 
be  abundant   in    this   State.     I  am  acquainted  with 


164  THE    SHRUBS    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

but  a  single  locality  of  it,  which  is  in  Hickory  Nut 
Gap ;  though  it  is  doubtless  to  be  found  along  other 
streams  in  the  upper  part  of  the  State.  It  is  6  to  10 
feet  high,  the.  leaves  about  2  inches  long,  pointed, 
with  few  distant  teeth,  rather  soft  and  hairy,  and 
tasting  somewhat  like  Cucumbers.  The  flowers  are 
an  inch  or  more  broad. 

>^  2.  Rough  Syringa.  (P.  hirsutus,  Nutt.) — Every 
way  smaller  than  No.  1,  the  leaves  quite  rough  on 
the  upper  side  and  whitish-downy  beneath.  This 
grows  on  the  French  Broad  River,  a  few  miles  below 
Asheville. 

1.  Mock  Orange.  (Styrax  grandifolia,  Ait.) — A 
very  beautiful  shrub,  3  to  12  feet  high,  with  rather 
large  leaves,  3  to  6  inches  long,  and  of  a  grayish 
aspect  from  the  presence  of  a  whitish  down  on  their 
underside.  The  flowers  are  from  15  to  20  on  loose 
nodding  racemes,  white,  very  fragrant,  in  size  and 
form  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Orange.  It  grows 
on  light  rich  soils  in  the  Lower  and  Middle  Districts, 
as  far  west  as  Lincoln.  This  is  well  worthy  of  a 
place  in  shrubberies,  but  has  received  but  little 
attention. 

<  2.  (S.  Americana,  Lam.) — Distinguished  from  No. 
1  by  its  smooth,  green  leaves,  1  or  2  inches  long,  and 
smaller  flowers,  only  3  or  4  on  a  raceme.  It  is  4  to 
8  feet  high,  not  inelegant,  but  of  inferior  beauty  to 
the  other,  and  grows  on  the  borders  of  swamps  in 
the  Lower  Distiict. 
r  1.    Bush    Honeysuckle.     (Diervilla    trifida. 


THE   SHRUBS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  165 

Msench.) — A  small,  rather  delicate  shrub,  3  to  5  feet 
high,  with  pointed  toothed  leaves  which  are  3  or  4 
inches  long,  and  have  short  foot-stalks.  The  flowers 
are  in  clusters  of  (generally)  3  in  the  forks  of  the 
upper  leaves,  greenish  yellow,  and  funnel-shaped, 
like  those  of  the  Woodbine,  This  is  found  only  in 
the  mountains. 

^  2.  (D.  sessilifolia,  Buckley.) — Like  the  preceding, 
but  larger  in  several  particulars,  and  the  leaves  clasp 
the  branches,  being  destitute  of  a  foot-stalk.  Found 
in  the  mountains. 
/i-'  1.  Strawberry  Bush.  (Euonymus  Americanus, 
Linn.)  —  A  shrub  2  to  5  feet  high,  found  in  all  the 
Districts,  and  known  by  the  names  of  Burning  Bush, 
FisJi-ivood,  and  Bursting  Heart,  besides  the  one  first 
given.  The  branches  are  square,  straight  but  flex- 
ible, very  smooth,  and  about  as  green  as  the  leaves. 
The  flowers  are  small,  purplish  or  greenish,  and  un- 
attractive. The  fruit  gives  the  plant  a  peculiar 
beauty,  for  which  chiefly  it  is  prized  in  shrubberies. 
This  is  of  a  bright  crimson  color  when  mature,  and 
covered  with  small  w\irts  which  give  it  somewhat  the 
aspect  of  a  small  strawberry.  This  finally  bursts 
open,  exposing  its  bright  scarlet  seeds. 

v-  2.  Burning  Bush.  (E.  atropurpureus,  Jacq.)  — 
Every  way  larger  than  the  preceding,  its  flowers 
dark  purple,  and  the  fruit  smooth.  I  have  not  met 
with  it,  and  am  indebted  to  Prof.  Mitchell  for  my 
knowledge  of  it  as  an  inhabitant  of  this  State. 

^^^Stillingia  ligustrina,  Michx.) — A  shrub  with  slen- 


166  THE   SHRUBS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

der  spreading  branches,  6  to  12  feet  high,  very  rare 
in  this  State,  and  not  found,  I  think,  north  of  Cape 
Fear  River.  The  leaves  are  1  to  3  inches  long,  not 
toothed,  the  upper  end  obtuse,  tapering  at  tlie  lower 
end,  and  with  a  short  foot-stalk.  For  my  knowledge 
of  this  plant  I  am  under  obligations  to  Dr.  McRee. 
The  Talloiv  Tree  (S.  sebifera),  cultivated  farther 
south,  and  the  Queen's  Delight  (S.  sylvatica),  an  her- 
baceous plant  of  the  Pine  barrens,  are  members  of 
this  genus. 

1.  (Stuartia  Virginica,  Cav.)  —  This  and  the  Lob- 
lolly Bay  are  the  only  representatives  in  this  country 
of  the  admired  Camellia  family,  and  the  still  more 
important  Tea  Plant.  It  is  one  of  our  most  beauti- 
ful shrubs,  and  yet  has  nowhere,  so  far  as  I  know, 
obtained  a  popular  name.  It  is  found  in  rich  soils 
in  the  eastern  half  of  our  Lower  District,  extending 
north  into  Lower  Virginia,  and  southward  to  Flor- 
ida. It  is  6  to  15  feet  high,  blossoming  in  April  and 
May.  The  flowers  are  white,  about  the  size  of  the 
Cherokee  Rose,  silky  on  the  outer  side,  covered  on 
the  inner  with  a  circle  of  stamens  with  bright  purple 
filaments  and  blue  anthers. 

2.  (S.  pentagyna,  L'Her.)  —  Like  the  preceding, 
without  a  name.  It  is  similar  to  the  preceding,  only 
its  flowers  are  cream-colored  and  its  staminate  fila- 
ments are  white.  Found  in  the  Middle  and  Upper 
Districts,  from  Wake  to  Cherokee.  The  seed-vessel 
in  these  two  is  an  ovoid  woody  capsule. 
^/^OOTHACHE  Tree.    (Zanthoxylum  Carolinianum, 


THE    SHRUBS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA.  167 

Lam.) — Known  also  by  the  names  of  Pellitory  and 
Prickly  Ash.  The  last  name,  though  more  legitimate 
in  this  application,  is  generally  appropriated  in  this 
State  to  another  plant  before  described.  It  is  a 
small  branching  tree,  12  to  20  feet  high,  the  old  bark 
covered  with  prickles,  and  peculiar  to  the  southern 
sea-coast.  The  bark,  leaves,  and  fruit  are  aromatic 
and  intensely  pungent,  producing  a  rapid  secretion 
of  saliva,  and  are  a  popular  and  useful  application 
for  toothache.  They  would  probably  be  generally 
serviceable  as  a  counter  irritant. 

1.  Hardhack.  (Spiraea  tomentosa,  Linn.)  —  An 
erect  branching  pretty  shrub,  2  or  3  feet  high,  com- 
mon in  low  wet  places  of  the  Lower  and  Middle 
Districts,  and  the  lower  part  of  the  Upper.  The 
leaves  are  1  to  li  inch  long,  oblong,  coarse-toothed, 
the  under -side  coated  with  a  rusty-white  down.  The 
flowers  are  rose-colored,  small,  clustered  on  the  ends 
of  the  branches  in  a  compound  raceme  3  or  4  inches 
long. 

2.  Queen  of  the  Meadow.  (S.  salicifolia,  Linn.) 
—  This  is  similar  to  No.  1,  and  sometimes  called 
Meadow  Sweety  but  is  taller  and  the  flowers  generally 
white.  The  leaves  are  larger,  smoother  and  thinner. 
It  belongs  to  damp  bushy  places  in  the  Middle  Dis- 
trict, and  in  valleys  and  along  streams  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  LTpper. 

^  Nine  Bark.  (S.  opulifolia,  Linn.)  —  This  is 
found  upon  river  banks  in  the  western  part  of  the 
State,  6  to  10  feet  high,  with  slender  curved  branches. 


168  THE    SHRUBS    OF   NOETH    CAROLINA. 

often  spreading  like  a  vine  over  other  shrubs,  and 
covered  with  a  profusion  of  fiat  clusters  of  small, 
white,  but  not  showy  flowers.  Leaves  about  2  inches 
long  and  broad,  divided  into  3  segments,  and  coarsely 
toothed.  The  reddish  fruit  is  membranaceous,  com- 
posed of  3  to  5  sacs  united  at  base.  The  old  bark 
peels  off  in  thin  layers. 

Yellow  Ro(^t.  (Zanthorhiza  apiifolia,  L'Her.) — 
A  small  shrubby  plant,  1  or  2  feet  high,  generally 
spreading  on  the  ground,  found  on  moist  rocky  hill- 
sides of  the  Middle  and  Upper  Districts.  The  leaves 
are  dark  green  and  divided  somewhat  like  those  of 
Parsley.  The  flowers  are  small,  dark  purple,  in 
loose  slender  clusters,  appearing  before  the  leaves. 
The-  roots  are  intensely  bitter,  of  a  yellow  color,  and 
were  used  by  the  Indians  in  making  a  yellow  dye. 
-s^  Red  Root.  (Ceanothus  Americanus,  Linn.)  — 
Common  in  dry  woods  from  the  coast  to  the  moun- 
tains, 1  to  3  feet  high,  and  the  ends  of  the  numerous 
small  branches  having  loose  clusters  (1  or  2  inches 
long)  of  small  white  flowers  supported  on  white  foot- 
stalks. The  leaves  are  1  or  2  inches  long,  sharply 
toothed,  and  have  3  prominent  veins.  The  root  is 
dark  red  and  quite  astringent,  and  is  frequently  used 
in  infusion,  tincture,  or  powder,  where  astringency 
is  required.  It  is  said  also  to  furnish  a  dye  of  a  cin- 
namon color.  The  dried  leaves  served  as  a  substi- 
tute for  Tea  during  the  Revolution,  and  hence  got 
the  name  of  New  Jersey  Tea.  It  is  said  to  be  quite 
as  good  as  some  of  the  Black  Teas. 


THE    SHRUBS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  169 

1.  Indigo  Bush.  (Amorpha  fruticosa,  Linn.)  — 
A  very  pretty  shrub,  6  to  15  feet  high,  growing  upon 
streams  in  all  the  Districts,  but  more  frequent  in  the 

•  Lower.  The  flowers  are  small,  dark  purple,  crowded 
on  spikes  Avhich  are  3  or  4  inches  long  and  clustered 
together.  It  is  said  to  have  been  used  for  the  manu- 
facture of  Indigo,  but,  I  imagine,  with  not  much 
profit. 

2.  Dwarf  Indigo  Bush.  (A.  herbacea,  Walt.) — 
Like  No.  1  in  its  whole  habit,  but  only  2  or  3  feet 
high,  of  a  grayish  aspect,  and  with  the  flowers  whit- 
ish or  pale-blue.  It  is  frequent  in  the  barrens  of  the 
Lower  District.  The  leaves  in  these  two  species  are 
pinnate^  like  those  of  the  Locust  and  Hickory.  The 
fruit  is  a  very  small  pod,  sprinkled  Avith  glands. 

He  Huckleberry.  (Cyrilla  racemiflora,  Walt.) 
— This  is  an  absurd  name,  but  I  have  never  heard  any 
other.  This  smooth  shrub  inhabits  the  borders  of 
swamps  and  branches  in  the  Lower  District,  and  is 
10  to  15  feet  high.  The  leaves  are  oblong,  shining, 
2  to  3  inches  long.  The  small  white  flowers  grow  on 
racemes  that  are  3  to  5  inches  long,  and  that  are  clus- 
tered on  the  ends  of  the  previous  year's  growth,  and 
make  this  quite  ornamental.  The  bark  at  the  base 
of  the  trunk  pulverizes  naturally,  and  is  much  used 
as  a  styptic  and  in  applications  to  old  ulcers. 
v^'  (Buckleya  distichophylla,  Torr.) — A  smooth  shrub, 
about  6  feet  high,  with  slender  grayish  branches, 
known  only  u})on  the  streams  of  this  State  that  flow 
westward,  as  the  Pigeon   and  French  Broad  Rivers. 


L 


170  THE   SHRUBS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

Its  thin  delicate  foliage  reminds  one  by  its  general 
aspect  of  the  English  and  Catalonian  Jasmine  of  our 
gardens.  The  flowers  are  greenish  and  inconspicuous. 
The  fruit  is  about  i  inch  long,  growing  solitary  on 
the  end  of  a  branch. 

.^  (Darbya  umbellulata,  Gray.) — Like  the  preceding, 
a  very  rare  plant,  as  yet  known  only  in  two  or  three 
localities  in  Georgia,  and  in  the  bend  of  the  Catawba, 
near  Lincolnton,  in  this  State.  It  is  1  to  2  feet  high, 
with  opposite  branches  and  leaves,  the  latter  ovate, 
acute,  entire,  1  to  2  inches  long,  1  to  li  wide,  rounded 
at  base,  and  with  short  foot-stalks.  The  flowers  are 
small,  greenish,  in  a  cluster  of  3  to  8,  which  is  borne 
on  a  foot-stalk  in  the  forks  of  the  leaves. 

-<  Witch  Hazel.  (Hamamelis  Virginica,  Linn.) — 
Well  known  by  this  name  through  the  State  It  has 
the  peculiarity  of  flowering  late  in  the  Fall  after  the 
leaves  have  dropped,  and  maturing  its  fruit  in  the 
following  Spring.  Its  popular  name  is  derived  from 
the  use  made  of  its  branches  in  discovering  hidden 
springs  of  water,  minerals,  etc.  Other  kinds,  as  of 
the  Peach,  are  indeed  sometimes  used  fortius  purpose, 
but  I  venture  to  affirm  that  none  in  the  whole  veget- 
able kingdom  are  better  than  those  of  Witch  Hazel. 

^  Dwarf  Alder.  (Fothergilla  alnifolia,  Linn.) — 
Unknown  north  of  Virginia.  In  this  State  it  is 
found  from  the  coast  to  Lincoln.  In  the  Lower  Dis- 
trict it  is  1  to  2  feet  high,  often  but  a  single  un- 
branched  stem,  terminated  by  a  tuft  of  small  white 
flowers  before  the  leaves  appear.     It  grows  here  upon 


THE   SHRUBS    OF    NORTH    CxVROLINA.  171 

the  borders  of  Pine-barren  swamps,  and  is  rarely 
much  branched.  In  the  Middle  District  it  is  found 
upon  rocky  hills,  is  3  to  5  feet  high,  forming  a 
branched  straggling  shrub.  The  foliage  varies  a 
good  deal,  so  that  several  species  have  been  made  of 
it  by  some  authors;  but  the  leaves  are  generally  not 
unlike  those  of  Alder.  The  fruit  is  a  hard  capsule, 
like  that  of  Witch  ITazel,  and,  like  that,  bursting 
elastically  and  expelling  the  hard  bony  seeds  to  a 
considerable  distance. 

Sweet  Fern.  (Comptonia  asplenifolia.  Ait.)  — 
A  small  shrubby  plant,  1  or  2  feet  high,  with  leaves 
(3  or  4  inches  long)  much  resembling  some  of  the 
Ferns,  and  possessing  a  grateful  aromatic  odor  like 
that  of  the  Wax  3Tyrtle.  It  is  found  chiefly  on  rocky 
or  gravelly  hills  of  the  Upper  and  Middle  Districts, 
but  is  occasionally  found  in  dry  and  sandy  Avoods  in 
the  upper  part  of  the  Lower.  An  infusion  of  this 
plant  i^  a  popular  remedy  for  dysentery. 

Wax  Myrtle.  Candle-berry  Myrtle.  (Myrica 
cerifera,  Linn.)  — A  well-known  shrub  with  fragrant 
leaves,  common  in  the  Lower  restrict,  and  found  in 
fruit  from  1  to  18  feet  in  height.  The  small  berry- 
like nuts,  which  often  hang  two  or  three  3"ears  on 
the  branches,  are  covered  with  a  fragrant  wax  which 
has  been  used  in  the  manufacture  of  soap  and  can- 
dles. The  latter  burn  long  and  diffuse  an  agreeable 
odor.  A  decoction  of  the  berries  has  been  used  for 
tetters  and  similar  affections.  The  root  is  said  to 
be  a  specific  for  tooth-ache. 


172  THE   SHRUBS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

^  1.  Hazel  Nut.  (Corylus  Americana,  Walt.)  — 
A  shrub  4  to  8  feet  high,  found  in  our  mountains, 
and  extending  north  to  New  England.  The  nut  is 
much  esteemed,  but  is  smaller  and  harder  shelled 
than  the  European  Hazel  or  Filbert  (C.  Avellana). 

2.  Beaked  Hazel  Nut.  (C.  rostrata,  Ait.)  — 
Of  similar  size  and  range  with  the  preceding;  but 
this  has  the  husk  of  the  fruit  prolonged  into  a  beak 
or  horn,  and  it  extends  into  the  Middle  District  as 
far  down  as  Orange. 

The  remaining  shrubs  are  so  various  in  their  fruit 
and  general  habit,  that,  to  save  space,  they  are  here 
grouped  miscellaneously  together,  most  of  them  being 
well  known  by  their  popular  names. 

Button  Bush.  Box.  (Cephalanthus  occiden- 
talis,  Linn.) — Common  on  the  borders  of  streams 
and  swampy  grounds  in  the  Lower  and  Middle  Dis- 
tricts, always  easily  recognized  by  its  round  head  of 
small  white  flowers,  which  is  about  an  inch  in  diame- 
ter. It  is  3  to  4  feet  high,  and  very  pretty  when  in 
blossom.  TheJnner  bark  of  the  roots  is  an  agreeable 
bitter,  and  is  used  for  relieving  obstinate  coughs. 

1.  Shrubby  Trefoil.  Hop  Tree.  (Ptelea  tri- 
foliata,  Linn.) — A  shrub  4  to  8  feet  high,  belonging 
to  the  upper  part  of  the  Middle  District,  with  tri- 
foliate leaves  like  those  of  Clover,  the  leaflets  2  to  3 
inches  long,  somewhat  hairy  when  young,  pale  on  the 
underside.  The  flowers  are  small,  greenish-white,  in 
rather  flat  clusters,  heavy-scented,  which  are  suc- 
ceeded by  a  flat,  winged  fruit,  like  that  of  the  Elm, 


THE    SHRUBS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  173 

but  an  inch  broad.  The  fruit  is  bitter,  and  used  as  a 
substitute  for  Hops. 

2.  Downy  Hop  Tree.  (P.  mollis,  M.  A.  C.)— 
Every  way  smaller  tlian  No.  1,  and  found  only  in  the 
Lower  District.  Its  leaves  are  more  rigid,  and  the 
underside  covered  with  a  permanent,  wdiite,  soft,  silky 
down. 

Bladder  Nut.  (Staphylea  trifolia,  Linn.) — An 
interesting  shrub,  5  to  10  feet  high,  with  greenish, 
striped  branches,  trifoliate  leaves,  the  leaflets  2  to  4 
inches  long,  taper-pointed,  finely  toothed,  and  smooth. 
The  small  white  flowers  are  gathered  into  loose  pen- 
dulous clusters,  which  are  succeeded  by  3-angled 
bladder-like  pods  about  two  inches  long.  I  have  met 
with  this  only  near  Hillsborough  and  Chapel  Hill, 
but  it  is  probably  to  be  found  along  streams  through 
the  Middle  District. 

;  1.  Sweet  Shrub.  (Calycanthus  floridus,  Linn.) 
— This  plant,  now  so  extensively  cultivated,  and 
admired  for  the  rich  Strawberry  odor  of  its  flowers, 
is  a  native  of  the  southern  Alleghanies.  This  spe- 
cies may  be  known  by  the  soft  down  on  the  under- 
side of  the  leaves,  and  on  the  branchlets,  etc.  The 
fruit  of  this  genus  is  a  sort  of  thick-skinned,  bladdery 
sac,  li  inch  long,  containing  large  seeds. 

2.  (C.  Isevigatus,  Willd.) — The  leaves  of  this  are 
taper-pointed,  smooth  and  green  on  both  sides,  some- 
times a  little  rough  above  and  pale  beneath.  This 
is  found  in  the  mountains,  and  in  the  Middle  Dis- 
trict as  low  down  as  Orange. 


174  THE    SHRUBS    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

^  3.  (C.  glaucus,  Willd.)— This  is  found  from  Lin- 
coln westward,  and  may  be  recognized  by  the  white 
under-surface  of  the  leaf;  a  little  rough  on  the 
upper. 

v^  1.  Alder.  (Alnus  serrulata,  Ait. — Common  on 
small  streams  all  over  the  State,  and  too  well  known 
by  the  above  name  to  need  a  description. 

"<  2.  Mountain  Alder.  (A.  viridis,  DC.) — Like 
the  above  in  habit  and  general  characters,  but  the 
underside  of  the  leaves  covered  with  a  soft  gray 
down.  It  is  known  at  the  South,  only  upon  the  top 
of  Roan  Mountain,  from  whence  to  northern  New 
York  it  is  not   found.     It  occurs  in  Europe. 

1.  Groundsel.  (Baccharis  halimifolia,  Linn.) — 
Grows  in  both  brackish  and  fresh  swampy  grounds 
of  the  Lower  District.  It  is  6  to  12  feet  high,  of  an 
ashy  hue  from  the  whitish  scales  that  cover  the  bark 
and  leaves.  The  small  flower-heads  are  solitary,  or 
a  few  clustered  together,  borne  on  a  foot-stalk.  The 
long,  white,  silky  hairs  of  the  seeds  emerging  from 
the  heads  give  the  plant  a  pleasing  appearance  in  the 
Fall. 

2.  (B.  glomeruliflora,  Pers.) — Like  the  preceding, 
but  rarer  and  less  showy,  and  has  larger  clusters  of 
flower-heads,  destitute  of  the  foot-stalk. 

3.  (B.  angustifolia,  Michx.) — Found  in  brackish 
marshes,  4  to  8  feet  high.  The  leaves,  which  in  the 
other  species  are  half  as  broad  as  long,  and  toothed, 
are  in  this  linear  and  entire. 

1.  Marsh   Elder.     (Iva   frutescens,  Linn.) — A 


THE    SHRUBS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  175 

coarse  unsiglitly  shrub  of  our  salt  marshes,  4  to  6 
feet  high.  The  whole  plant  is  smoothish,  and  its 
leaves  lance-shaped,  toothed,  and  about  2  inches  long. 
The  flower-heads  are  greenish  and  unsightly  in  the 
forks  of  the  small  leaves  on  the  terminal  branchlets. 

2.  (I.  imbricata,  Walt.)  —  This  grows  upon  the 
sea-beach,  and  is  but  partly  shrubby,  3  or  4  feet  high. 
The  leaves  are  very  thick  and  ileshy,  1  to  li  inch 
long,  rarel}^  toothed,  and  wedge-shaped.  The  plant 
has  a  strong  odor  like  old  honey. 

Swamp  Loosestrife.  (Nessea  verticillata,  H.  B. 
K.) — A  half  shrubby  plant  found  in  branch  swamps 
of  the  Lower  District,  4  to  6  feet  high,  with  slender, 
curved,  4  to  6-sided  stems.  The  leaves  are  3  or  4 
inches  long,  narrow  like  those  of  a  Willow,  generally 
growing  around  the  stem  in  a  circle  of  three.  The 
flowers  are  clustered  in  the  forks  of  the  leaves,  about 
i  inch  wide,  purple  or  roseate,  very  pretty,  remind- 
ing one  of  the  blossoms  of  the  Lagerstrcemia  or 
Crape  Tree. 
\l  Arbor  Vit^e.  (Thuja  occidentalis,  Linn.)  —  This 
has  its  southern  limit  on  the  mountains  in  the  north- 
western part  of  the  State.  From  thence  through  the 
mountains  of  Virginia  it  becomes  more  common.  It 
is  but  a  shrub  or  small  tree  at  the  South,  but  farther 
north  it  attains  a  height  of  50  feet,  and  its  timber  is 
used  in  building  and  for  cabinet  work. 
\/  1.  Cane.  (Arundinaria  gigantea,  Chapm.) — This 
belongs  to  the  (rrass  family,  but,  being  of  woody 
texture,  falls  within  odr  arrangement.    It  is  10  to  15 


176  THE    SHRUBS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

or  20  feet  high,  found  along  the  river  bottoms  of  the 
Cape  Fear.  I  am  not  aware  of  its  existence  north 
of  that  limit.  According  to  Dr.  Chapman,  "  it  is 
simple  the  first  year,  branching  the  second,  after- 
wards at  indefinite  periods  fruiting,  and  soon  after 
decaying."  The  value  of  the  stems  for  fishing-rods 
is  well  known. 

2.  Reed.  (A.  tecta,  Muhl.) — This  is  the  common 
smaller  form,  2  to  10  feet  high,  and  found  in  low 
grounds  in  each  District. 

This  completes  the  list  of  the  Shrubs  of  North 
Carolina,  so  far  as  they  are  known  to  me,  with  the 
exception  of  the  following,  which  are  too  small  and 
obscure  to  merit  more  than  a  bare  enumeration. 
'<  Hypericum.  Of  this  we  have  five  woody  species, 
all  with  yellow  flowers,  one  of  which  (H.  prolificum)  is 
occasionally  cultivated  under  the  name  of  Rock  Rose, 
\  AsCYRUM.  Much  like  the  preceding,  also  with 
yellow  flowers. 

Floavering  Moss.  (Pyxidanthera  barbulata, 
Michx.)  —  A  very  pretty,  small,  trailing  evergreen, 
with  white  flowers  which  appear  in  early  Spring,  and 
looking  somewhat  like  a  Moss  in  the  absence  of  blos- 
soms. Belongs  to  the  damp  Pine-barrens  and  Sa- 
vannas of  the  Lower  District. 

HuDSONiA.     Only  3  or  4  inches  high,  also  with 
yellow   flowers,  of   which  no    locality  is   anywhere 
known  but  on  Table  Rock,  N.  C. 
<  Trailing  Arbutus,  or  Ground  Laurel.     (Epi- 
gsea  repens,  Linn.)     Common-. 


THE   SHRUBS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  177 

^  PoLYGONELLA.       Ill    the    saiidy   Barrens    about 
Wilmington. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  append  here  a  comparative 
view  of  the  Flora  of  North  Carolina  with  that  of  the 
Northern  and  Southern  States  east  of  the  Mississippi. 
In  Prof.  Gray's  "  Manual  of  Botany,"  which  includes 
the  States  north  of  North  Carolina  and  Tennessee, 
I  find  described  130  Trees,  183  Shrubs,  and  30  Vines. 
In  Dr.  Chapman's  ''  Flora  of  the  Southern  States  " 
are  described  126  Trees,  (of  which  there  are  112  in 
North  Carolina,)  224  Shrubs,  (176  of  them  in  North 
Carolina,)  and  46  Vines  (32  in  this  State). 


THE 


Vines  of  North  Carolina 


These  will  be  grouped  according  to  the  character 
of  their  fruit :  the  first  nine  genera  having  Berries  ; 
the  next  five,  Pods ;  the  next  three,  d7y  Capsules  ; 
and  the  remaining  two,  naked  Feathered  Seeds. 

GRAPES. — 1.  Summer  Grape.  [Yitis  sestivalis, 
Michx.] — Common,  as  are  the  other  species,  except- 
ing the  Muscadine,  in  most  parts  of  the  United 
States.  In  this  State  it  is  found  in  all  the  Districts, 
generally  near  streams,  but  sometimes  in  dry  woods, 
climbing  over  trees  from  30  to  50  feet.  The  leaves 
are  4  to  6  inches  broad,  cut  into  3  or  5  divisions,  the 
underside  clothed  with  a  reddish,  cobweb-like  down 
when  young,  which  mostly  falls  away  in  the  course 
of  the  season.  The  bunches  of  fruit  are  compound, 
6  to  8  inches  long,  the  berries  i  to  i  inch  thick, 
purplish,  blackish  or  bluish,  w^ith  a  bloom ;  very 
varying  in  flavor,  frequently  very  fine. 

According  to  H.  W.  Ravenel,  Esq.,  of  Aiken,  South 
Carolina,  who  is  a  good  Botanist,  as  well  as  a  suc- 
cessful cultivator  of  Grapes,  the  following  cultivated 
varieties  are  descended  from  this  species :    The  War- 


THE   VINES    OF    NOKTH    CAROLINA.  179 

ren^  Pauline^  Herhemont^  Gidgnard^  Clinton^  Ohio, 
Marion,  Treveling,  Long  Grape  or  Old  House,  Elsin- 
horough,  Seahrook,  and  Lenoir.  With  this  last  he 
identifies  the  Black  July,  Devereux,  Thurmond,  Sum- 
ter, and  Lincoln  Grapes.  I  find,  however^  that  there 
is  a  difference  of  opinion  in  regard  to  the  identity  of 
the  Lenoir  and  Lincohi  varieties  ;  some  maintaining 
a  perceptible  difference,  the  latter  being  deemed 
superior  to  the  other.  Dr.  C.  L.  Hunter,  of  Lincoln, 
who  is  paying  much  attention  to  Grape  culture, 
especially  of  our  native  varieties,  pronounces  the 
Lenoir  "  one  of  the  very  best  table  Grapes,"  and 
recommends  its  general  cultivation.  He  informs  me 
that  this,  as  well  as  the  Warren,  came  from  Georgia. 

I  learn  from  the  same  gentleman  that  the  Lincoln 
Grape  was  discovered  about  the  beginning  of  this 
century,  near  the  junction  of  the  South  Fork  and 
Catawba,  by  Dr.  Wm.  McLean,  and  that  he  trans- 
planted the  whole  vine  near  his  house.  From  this 
stock  Mr.  John  Hart,  of  Mecklenburg,  derived  his, 
which  is  still  in  vigorous  existence.  From  this  last. 
Dr.  Butt,  of  Lincolnton,  obtained  his  cuttincrs,  and 
sent  some  of  the  fruit  to  Longworth,  who  gave  it  the 
name,  now  most  in  use,  of  the  Lincoln  Grape,  though 
it  was  previously  known  as  the  Hart  Grape,  and 
McLean  Grape. 

2.  Fox  Grape.  (V.  Labrusca,  Linn.) — I  have  met 
with  this  only  in  the  Middle  District,  where  it  is 
found  in  damp  thickets,  running  from  15  to  25  or  30 
feet.     The  leaves  are  roundish,  about  the  same  size 


180  THE   VINES    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

as  those  of  No.  1,  but  not  so  mnch  divided,  and  cov- 
ered underneath  with  a  permanent  thick  down,  which 
is  generally  white  or  gray,  rarely  of  a  faint  rusty  hue. 
The  berries  are  larger  than  in  that,  being  i  to  |  inch 
in  diameter,  in  small  bunches,  commonly  dark  purple, 
but  sometimes  amber-colored  or  whitish,  and  of  va- 
rious quality,  mostly  with  a  musky  and  rather  hard 
pulp. 

The  cultivated  varieties  of  this  are,  according  to 
Mr.  Ravenel,  the  Isabella^  Cataivha,  Bland's  Madeira^ 
Concord^  Diana,  Rebecca,  To  Kalon,  Anna,  Mary  Isa- 
bel, Ontario,  Northern  3Iuscadine,  Hartford  Prolific^ 
Catawissa,  Garrigues,  Stetson's  Seedling,  York  Madeira^ 
Hyde's  Eliza,  Union  Village,  Early  CJiocolate,  Harvard, 
Early  Black,  Green  Prolific  Kilvington.  The  first 
two  in  the  list  are,  I  believe,  the  most  approved,  and 
most  extensively  cultivated ;  both  of  which  are  said 
to  have  originated  in  this  State. 

A  foreign  origin  has  been  claimed  for  the  Isabella, 
but  this  is  an  evident  error,  proved  in  the  fact  that 
seedlings  of  the  Isabella  sometimes  revert  to  our  Fox 
Grape  in  every  particular  of  leaf  and  fruit.  This  has 
been  tested  by  Mr.  Caradeuc,  of  South  Carolina,  as 
I  learn  from  Mr.  Ravenel.  But  what  is  regarded  as 
a  scientific  demonstration  of  its  American  origin,  is 
the  fact  that  its  seedlings  sometimes  have  barren 
stocks,  like  all  our  American  species,  which  is  not 
the  case  with  any  European  Grapes.  Besides,  the 
Isabella,  in  its  specific  characters,  comes  nearer  to 
our  Fox  Grape  than  to  any  other. 


THE   VINES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  181 

Dr.  Hunter,  wlio  has  given  mncli  attention  to  the 
Iiistory  of  our  Grapes,  has  communicated  most  of  the 
foUowing  items  in  regard  to  the  Isabella.  Dr.  Las- 
peyre  was  probably  its  first  cultivator  in  the  United 
States,  probably  as  early  as  1805,  as  he  sold  it  in  the 
Wilmington  Market  in  1810.  Judge  Ruffin  culti- 
vated it  in  Orange  County  in  1811,  under  the  name 
of  Laspeyre  G-rape.  It  is  a  tradition  that  Gov.  Smith 
brought  it  to  Smithville  in  1809.  About  the  year 
1810  Mrs.  Isabella  Gibbs  took  a  rooted  cutting  from 
Gov.  Smith's  garden  to  Brooklyn,  New  York,  accord- 
ing to  a  current  account.  According  to  Dr.  Las- 
peyre, she  got  the  vine  from  Mm.  These  statements 
may,  in  a  sort,  be  reconciled,  if  Gov.  Smith  obtained 
lih  stock  from  Dr.  Laspeyre.  In  1819,  Gen.  Swift 
bought  the  Gibbs  place,  and  it  was  there  the  elder 
Prince  first  saw  and  obtained  this  Grape,  which  he 
named  the  Isabella  in  compliment  to  Mrs.  Gibbs. 
Dr.  Hunter  has  some  of  these-  statements  from  Gen. 
Swift.  Dr.  Laspeyre  was  under  the  impression  that 
this,  which  he  called  the  Black  Cape.,  was  one  of  the 
vines  which  he  brought  from  St.  Domingo,  but  it 
was  probably  the  accidental  introduction  of  an  Amer- 
ican among  his  foreign  stocks.  Dr.  Hunter  seems  to 
be  of  opinion  that  it  came  to  the  Cape  Fear  region 
from  South  Carolina,  according  Avith  the  tradition 
mentioned  in  Dr.  Hawks's  History. 

The  Catawba  G-rape.,  as  I  am  informed  by  Dr. 
Hunter,  originated  in  Buncombe  County  on  Cain 
Creek,  an  affluent  of  the  French  Broad.     His  views 


182  THE   VINES    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

on  "  The  Origin  of  the  Catawba  Grape  "  were  given 
last  year  (1859)  in  an  article  for  the  American 
Farmer. 

3.  Muscadine.  (V.  vulpina,  Linn.)  Known  also 
as  Bullace^  Bull  Ciraiye^  and  Bullet  Grafe^  and  far- 
ther south  as  Fox  Grape;  in  Florida,  as  3Iustang 
Grape.  It  extends  northward  as  far  as  jMarj'land 
and  Kentucky,  from  whence  southward  it  is  one  of 
the  most  common  vines.  In  tliis  State  it  is  found,  in 
various  soils,  from  the  coast  to  Cherokee,  but  most 
luxuriant  in  light  soils  of  the  Lower  District,  cover- 
ing the  loftiest  trees.  The  bark  is  pale  and  smooth, 
that  of  the  smaller  branches  dotted  with  minute 
warts.  The  leaves  are  about  3  inches  long,  thin, 
smooth  and  shining,  coarse-toothed,  and  nearly  round 
and  heart-shaped.  The  berries  are  in  small  bunches, 
larger  and  thicker  skinned  than  an}^  of  our  other 
Grapes,  varying  in  color  from  whitish  through  differ- 
ent shades  of  red  and-pur[)le  to  ebony  black.  The 
quality  of  the  fruit  varies  as  much  as  its  color,  being 
now  of  a  sharp  acid  flavor,  and  again  of  luscious 
sweetness. 

The  Sciippernong^  now  so  famous  as  a  Table  and 
Wine  Grape,  is  a  variety  of  this  species.  There  are 
still  found  in  the  Lower  and  Middle  Districts,  espe- 
cially in  the  former,  wild  vines  bearing  a  whitish  or 
amber  berry,  like  the  original  Scuppernong^  but  of 
various  qualities,  as  in  the  case  with  the  colored 
kinds.  Some  of  them  are  no  better  than  the  com- 
monest Muscadines  ;  and  no  one  is  superior,  if  equal, 


THE   VINES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  183 

to  the  well  known  cultivated  variety.  Some  of  the 
dark  Muscadines  are  very  nearly  as  luscious  as  the 
ScuiJfernong^  and  have  been  brought  under  culture, 
as  the  MUh  G-rape^  and  Alexander  s  Grape^  which  are 
black,  and  also  the  BulVs  Eye^  so  named  from  its 
superior  size. 

The  Hickman  Grape  I  take  to  be  identical  with 
the  true  Scuppernong  and  derived  from  Tyrrell 
County,  the  home  of  the  original.  For  some  of  this 
information,  as  well  as  for  the  following  history  of 
the  Scuppernong  (proper),  I  am  indebted  to  Rev.  E. 
M.  Forbes,  who  has  resided  in  the  region  and  has 
taken  much  pains  to  obtain  an  authentic  account 
of  this  vine.  Two  men,  of  the  name  of  Alexander, 
while  clearing  land  near  Columbia,  the  county  seat 
of  Tyrrell,  which  stands  on  the  east  side  of  Scupper- 
nong River,  discovered  this  Grape,  and  were  so  much 
pleased  with  it  that  they  preserved  the  vine  and 
the  tree  upon  which  it  grew.  "  That  was  the  vine 
which  I  saw,"  says  Mr.  Forbes,  "and  from  which 
other  vines  were  propagated."  They  called  it  the 
"  White  Grape,"  and  from  it  made  what  they  called 
"Country  Wine"  At  the  suggestion  of  a  relative, 
who  had  been  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  knew  the 
indefiniteness  of  such  names  as  these,  they  subse- 
quently named  the  Grape  from  the  river  upon  which 
it  was  found.  "  This  is  the  history  given  b}"  a  grand- 
daughter of  one  of  the  discoverers,  who  was  alive 
when  I  first  went  to  Scuppernong." 

A  tradition  is  furnished  me  by  Dr.  Hunter,  that. 


184  THE   VINES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

"  about  the  year  1774,  the  Rev.  Charles  Pettigrew 
found  it  on  the  low  grounds  of  Scuppernong  River, 
and  planted  out  several  vines."  My  limited  space 
will  not  permit  an  exhaustive  discussion  of  this  mat- 
ter here,  and  I  will,  therefore,  only  remark  further 
upon  it,  that  the  notion  of  its  origination  on  Roanoke 
Island  seems  opposed  by  the  name  of  the  Grape.  I 
have  also  been  told  by  those  who  have  been  on  the 
Island,  that  there  are  no  vines  of  it  there  which  were 
not  evidently  transplanted  there. 

4.  Frost  Grape.  Winter  Grape.  (V.  cordi- 
folia,  Michx.) — Common  in  thickets  along  streams 
through  the  Middle  District.  The  leaves  are  3  to  5 
inches  broad,  thin,  smooth,  toothed,  and  sometimes 
cut  into  three  segments.  The  berries  are  nearly 
black,  small,  i  inch  thick,  and  very  sour  until  dead 
ripe.  The  berries  are  sometimes  greenish-white,  and 
Lawson  mentions  a  white  [whitish?]  variety.  I 
have  not  heard  of  this  being  cultivated. 

5.  (V.  bipinnata,  Torr.  &  Gr.) — This  would  not 
generally  be  taken  for  a  member  of  this  genus,  either 
from  its  leaves,  which  are  compound,  like  those  of 
the  China  Tree,  or  from  its  fruit,  which  is  uneatable. 
The  berries  are  blackish,  slightly  hairy,  and  about 
the  size  of  a  small  pea.  It  is  found  in  the  Lower 
and  Middle  Districts,  growing  in  rich  soils,  climbing 
(without  tendrils)  over  shrubs  and  small  trees. 

Virginian  Creeper.  (Ampelopsis  quinquefolia, 
Michx.) — This  pretty  vine,  sometimes  cultivated,  is 
found  along  fence-rows  and  borders  of  woods  in  all 


THE   VINES   O-F   NORTH   CAROLINA.  185 

parts  of  the  State.  It  may  be  known  by  its  leaflets 
growing  in  jives  from  the  end  of  a  common  leaf-stalk, 
as  in  the  Buckeye,  which  is  the  case  with  no  other 
of  our  Climbers.  The  foliage  becomes  crimson  in 
the  Fall.  The  berries  are  dark-blue,  about  the  size 
of  a  small  pea,  borne  on  bright  crimson  foot-stalks. 
The  rapidity  of  its  growth  renders  this  Creeper  use- 
ful for  covering  old  w^alls,  etc.,  like  the  English  Ivy. 
It  is,  indeed,  sometimes  called  American  Ivy.  This 
is  often  confounded  with  the  Poison  Vine,  though 
having  very  little  likeness  to  it,  and  is  hence  avoided, 
though  it  be  quite  innocent. 

1.  Woodbine.  (Lonicera  sempervirens,  Ait.) — 
This  beautiful  vine,  now  common  in  cultivation, 
grows  from  the  coast  to  the  mountains.  The  flow^ers 
are  tubular,  1  to  2  inches  long,  scarlet  without  and 
yellow  within.  In  rich  soils  it  has  a  very  luxuriant 
growth,  climbing  high  into  forest  trees. 

2.  Yellow  Woodbine.  (L.  grata,  Ait.)— Tins 
belongs  to  the  mountains,  and  has  a  flower  1  to  IJ 
inch  long,  reddish  on  the  tubular  part,  whitish  at  top, 
then  changing  to  yellow,  somewhat  fragrant.  The 
young  branches  are  often  hairy. 

3.  Small  Woodbine.  (L.  parviflora,  Linn.) — 
Found  in  the  mountains,  less  climbing  than  the 
others,  with  flowers  about  §  inch  long,  somewhat 
swollen  at  the  base  of  the  tube,  and  greenish-yellow 
tinged  with  purple. 

I  have  heard  of  a  yellow  species  in  Gates  County, 
but  have  never  seen  any  specimens. 


186  THE   VINES    OF    NOKTH    CAROLINA. 

1.  Common  Bamboo  or  Green  Brier.  (Smilax 
rotunclifolia,  Linn.) — Very  common  in  all  the  Dis- 
tricts, generally  in  thickets  where  the  soil  is  rather 
fertile,  20  to  40  feet  long,  the  stems  and  branches  of  a 
yellowish-green  color,  round,  and  armed  with  strong 
prickles,  the  branchlets  slightly  angled.  The  leaves 
are  deciduous,  3  or  4  inches  long,  roundish  and  heart- 
shaped.  The  berries,  as  in  most  of  the  species,  are 
bluish-black,  borne  in  bunches  upon  a  common  stalk 
in  the  fork  of  the  leaves,  and  which  is  about  the 
same  length  with  the  leaf-stalk. 

2.  (S.  tamnoides,  Linn.) — A  stout  prickly  vine 
with  angled  branchlets,  occurring  in  the  Lower  and 
Middle  Districts.  The  leaves  are  somewhat  fiddle- 
shaped  or  contracted  in  the  middle,  the  base  some- 
times spreading  into  rounded  projections.  The  gen- 
eral fruit-stalk  is  a  little  flattened,  about  li  inch 
long,  and  twice  the  length  of  the  leaf-stalk. 

3.  China  Root.  (S.  Pseudo-China,  Linn.)— Stout 
and  prickly  like  No.  2,  10  to  15  feet  long,  the 
branches  roundish  and  not  prickly,  and  the  roots 
tuberous.  The  leaves  are  large,  4  to  7  inches  long, 
ovate,  green  both  sides,  the  edges  and  nerves  on  the 
underside  roughened  with  minute  prickles.  The  gen- 
eral fruit-stalk  is  flat  and  2  or  3  inches  long.  The 
berries  are  blackish  and  larger  than  in  the  preceding 
species. 

4.  Sarsaparilla.  (S.  glauca,  Walt.) — Not  un- 
common in  all  the  Districts  in  cultivated  grounds 
near  streams.     The  stems  are  prickly  and  2  to  4  feet 


THE   VINES    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  187 

long.  The  leaves  are  ovate,  and  covered,  especially 
on  the  underside,  with  a  white  bloom  that  rubs  off 
under  the  linger.  The  berries  are  black.  The  com- 
mon fruit-stalk  is  2  or  3  times  longer  than  the  leaf- 
stalk. The  root  of  this  is  sometimes  used  in  the 
composition  of  diet  drinks.  It  is  not  the  Sarsaparilla 
of  the  druggists,  but  is  said  to  be  often  mixed 
with  it. 

5.  (S.  Walteri,  Pursh.) — Stem  dark  green,  angled, 
10  to  15  feet  long,  having  prickles  only  to^vards  the 
bottom,  running  over  bushes  and  up  small  trees  in 
branch  sw^amps  of  the  Lower  District.  Leaves  de- 
ciduous, ovate,  heart-shaped,  smooth,  dark  shining 
green  above,  paler  beneath,  terminating  in  a  small, 
almost  prickly  point,  3  to  4  inches  long,  2  to  3  wide, 
and  having  3  distinct  and  2  obscure  nerves.  The 
berries  are  scarlet  and  very  conspicuous  in  Winter. 
This  has  a  creeping  root. 

6.  (S.  lanceolata,  Linn.) — This  and  No.  5  are  the 
only  species  with  red  berries.  But  this  has  ever- 
green leaves,  narrower  than  in  the  preceding  and 
acute  at  base.  The  branches,  too,  are  not  angled, 
and  the  root  is  tuberous.  I  have  not  myself  met  with 
it,  and  give  it  on  the  authority  of  otliers. 

7.  (S.  laurifolia,  Linn.) — This  is  a  showy  species, 
and  like  Nos.  6  and  8,  has  evergreen  leaves.  It  runs 
to  a  great  length  over  bushes  and  up  lofty  trees,  the 
lower  part  only  being  prickly.  The  leaves  are  thick 
and  shining,  lance-shaped  or  oblong.  The  general 
fruit-stalk  is  equal  to  the  leaf-stalk,  J  to  i  inch  long. 


188  THE   VINES    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

Berries  black.  This  seems  confined  to  wet  places  in 
the  Lower  District. 

8.  (S.  auriculata,  Walt.) — Similar  to  No.  7,  slightly 
or  not  at  all  prickly,  growing  over  small  shrubs  on 
the  coast,  flowers  fragrant.  The  leaves  are  peren- 
nial, 1  to  2  inches  long,  narrowly  ovate,  3  to  5  nerved, 
with  conspicuous  cross  veins,  especially  beneath,  ter- 
minated by  an  abrupt  almost  prickly  point.  Com- 
mon fruit-stalk  rather  shorter  than  the  leaf-stem. 
Berries  black. 

Rattan.  Supple  Jack.  (Berchemia  volubilis, 
DC.) — A  very  tough  flexible  vine  running  up  trees. 
The  leaves  are  alternate,  1  to  2  inches  long,  ovate, 
dark  green,  very  smooth,  not  toothed,  having  promi- 
nent parallel  unbranched  straight  veins  running  ob- 
liquely from  the  midrib  to  the  margin.  The  berry  is 
dark  purple,  about  i  inch  long,  with  a  thin  coat  and 
a  hard  smooth  nut.  Grows  from  Virginia  southward 
through  our  Lower  District. 

(Sageretia  Michauxii,  Brogn.) — Grows  upon  the 
sandy  soil  of  the  coast,  6  to  18  feet  long,  with  thorn- 
like spreading  branches.  Leaves  1  inch  long,  ovate, 
opposite,  smooth  and  shining,  finely  toothed.  Flow- 
ers very  small,  in  loose  clusters.  The  berry  is  small 
and  round,  dark  jDurple,  and  pleasantly  acid.  I  have 
not  met  with  this,  and  have  introduced  it  here  on  the 
authority  of  Michaux. 

(Cocculus  Carolinus,  DC.) — This  runs  exten- 
sively over  shrubs  and  small  trees  on  the  borders  of 
damp  woods  and  streams,  from  the  coast  to  Lincoln. 


V 

THE    VINES    OF    NORTH   CAllOLINA.  189 

The  leaves  are  2  to  4  inclies  long,  broadly  ovate  and 
heart-shaped,  sometimes  3  lobed,  smooth  above,  v^^ith 
a  soft  gray  down  underneath.  The  ripe  berries  are 
red,  about  the  size  of  a  small  pea,  growing  in  small 
clusters,  containing  a  hard  flat  nut  which  is  curved 
nearly  into  a  ring. 

Moon  Seed.  (Menispermum  Canadense,  Linn.) 
— This  is  6  to  12  feet  long,  and  woody  only  in  the 
lower  part.  It  is  the  only  one  of  our  woody  Climb- 
ers that  has  the  leaf-stalk  inserted  into  the  plate  of 
the  leaf  instead  of  the  lower  edge.  The  berries  are 
black  and  contain  a  flat  nut,  as  in  the  preceding- 
species,  curved  into  the  form  of  a  horse  shoe.  Rare 
in  the  Lower  District,  not  uncommon  elsewhere. 

Poison  Vine.  (^Rhus  radicans,  Linn.) — Now  con- 
sidered by  Botanists  as  only  a  variety  of  Poison  Oak, 
but  necessarily  separated  in  the  arrangement  I  have 
adopted.  It  is  the  only  trifoliate  woody  Climber  we 
have.  Like  Poisoyi  Oak  and  Poison  Sumach^  very 
poisonous  to  some  people.  Common  throughout  the 
State. 

The  next  Group  of  Climbers,  comprising  Ave 
genera,  have  their  fruit  in  dry  pods.  All  of  the  spe- 
cies are  ornamental. 

Trumpet  Flower.  (Tecoma  radicans,  Juss.) — 
This  splendid  Climber,  ascending  the  loftiest  tree,  is 
found  from  the  coast  to  the  lower  part  of  the  moun- 
tains, preferring  damp  rich  soils.  Its  dark  green 
compound  leaves,  and  scarlet  tubular  flowers  which 


190  THE   VINES    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

are  2  to  3  inclies  long,  make  it  an  attractive  orna- 
ment in  yards  and  gardens.  This  harmless  plant  has 
the  reputation,  with  some,  of  being  poisonous. 

Cross  Vine.  (Bignonia  capreolata,  Linn.) — This, 
like  the  preceding,  is  sometimes  called  Trumpet 
Floiver.  The  flowers  are  of  similar  form,  about  2 
inches  long,  but  are  of  a  duller  red  on  the  outside 
and  yellow  within.  Tlie  leaves  are  of  a  dull  green, 
growing  in  pairs  from  the  end  of  a  common  foot- 
stalk, each  leaflet  also  having  its  own  stalk.  This 
does  not  climb  to  so  great  a  height  as  the  other.  A 
cross  section  of  the  stem  exhibits  a  portion  of  its 
inner  structure  in  the  form  of  a  Maltese  cross,  which 
gives  the  name  to  this  plant.  Not  uncommon  in 
the  Lower  and  Middle  Districts. 

Virgin's  Bower.  (Wistaria  frutescens,  DC.) 
— This  luxuriant,  much  admired  Climber  is  found,  I 
think,  only  in  damp  rich  soils  of  the  Lower  District. 
It  stands  cultivation  remarkably  well  in  the  Middle 
District.  The  leaves  are  pinnate,  like  those  of  the 
Locust;  and  the  flowers  are  of  the  size  and  structure 
of  the  Garden  Pea,  purplish-blue,  in  large  pendent 
compact  clusters  4  to  6  inches  long.  We  have  no 
other  woody  Vine  answering  to  these  characters. 
The  stem  is  exceedingly  tough  and  serves  well  for 
withes  or  ligatures. 

Carolina  Jessamine.  (Gelsemium  sempervi- 
rens.  Ait.) — No  plant  is  more  common  in  the  Lower 
District,  but  it  reaches  very  little  into  the  Middle. 
It  extends    northward   into  Virginia,    but   becomes 


THE  VINES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  191 

much  more  luxuriant  as  we  go  south.  Its  graceful 
evergreen  leaves,  the  profusion  of  its  large,  bright  3"el- 
low  and  deliciously  fragrant  blossoms,  render  this  vine 
the  pride  of  our  forest.  The  odor  of  the  flowers  in  a 
close  room  sometimes  induces  headache.  Most  of  the 
plant,  especially  the  root,  taken  internally,  is  narcotic 
and  poisonous.  A  tincture  of  the  root,  judiciously 
administered^  is  useful  in  rheumatic  affections  ;  but 
in  the  hands  of  quacks  death  has  been  caused  by  it. 

(Forsteronia  difformis,  A.  DC.) — A  smooth  twin- 
ing plant,  6  to  12  feet  long,  found  chiefly  in  the 
Lower  District,  but  extending  into  the  interior  as 
far  at  least  as  Wake  County.  It  is  sometimes  mis- 
taken for  the  Yelloiv  Jessamine^  but  the  flowers  are 
tubular  and  smaller,  more  like  those  of  a  Wood- 
bine, about  1-3  inch  long,  and  greenish-yellow.  The 
fruit  is  a  slender  pod,  containing  seeds  that  have  a 
tuft  of  down. 

The  next  GROur  of  three  genera  have  their  seeds 
in  small  dry  capsules. 

WAx-^^^ORK.  Bittersweet.  (Celastrus  scandens, 
Linn.) — Tliis  is  to  me  the  rarest  plant  in  the  State, 
as  I  have  seen  but  a  single  stock,  near  Liucolnton. 
This  is  its  most  southern  known  limit.  It  ascends 
trees  to  the  height  of  12  or  15  feet.  The  leaves  are 
about  3  inches  /ong,  taper  pointed,  smooth,  toothed. 
The  berry -like  capsule  is  orange-red,  clustered  on  the 
ends  of  its  short  branches,  of  the  size  of  a  large  pea, 
bursting  when  mature  and  disclosing  3  to  6  scarlet 
seeds.     In  this  state  it  is  quite  an  ornamental  vine. 


192  THE   VINES    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

(Decumaria  barbara,  Linn.)  — A  pretty  vine  as- 
cending trunks  by  means  of  rootlets  insinuated  into 
the  bark,  after  the  manner  of  the  Poison  Vine.  The 
leaves  are  3  to  4  inches  long,  broadly  ovate,  opposite, 
rather  thick  and  shining,  generall}^  with  scattered 
teeth  towards  the  upper  end.  The  flowers  are  small, 
white  and  fragrant,  in  showy  compound  clusters  on 
the  ends  of  the  branches,  opening  in  May.  This  is 
found  in  the  Lower  District  only,  and  is  unknown 
north  of  this  State. 

Wild  Ginger.  Big  Sarsaparilla.  (Aristolo- 
chia  Sipho,  L'Her.) — Found  in  rich  soils  all  along 
our  mountain  rivulets,  climbing  over  bushes,  and 
sometimes  ascending  trees.  The  stems  are  occasion- 
ally 2  inches  thick.  The  leaves  are  roundish,  heart- 
shaped,  8  to  12  inches  broad,  and  slightly  downy  on 
the  underside.  The  flower  is  coarse,  brownish-pur- 
ple, I2  inch  long,  somewhat  tubular,  with  top  cut 
into  three  segments,  below  which  it  is  contracted  and 
curved  like  a  Dutch  pipe,  from  which,  in  some  parts 
of  the  United  States,  it  has  gotten  the  name  of 
Dutchman's  Pipe,  The  root  is  very  aromatic  and 
stimulant,  like  Ginger,  and  would  serve  as  a  medi- 
cine wdiere  these  properties  are  indicated. 

The  tAVO  remaining  genera  have  naked  seeds,  which 
are  remarkable  for  their  long  feathered  tails. 

Virgin's  Bower.  (Clematis  Virginiana,  Linn.) 
—A  partly  woody  vine,  10  to  15  feet  long,  climbing 
over  thickets  and  fences.  It  is  found  from  the  coast 
to  the  mountains,  generally  near  streams,  but  is  less 


THE   VINES   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  193 

common  in  the  Lower  District.  The  leaves  are  com- 
posed of  3  ovate  leaflets  which  are  a  little  cut.  The 
flowers  are  in  loose  clusters,  i  to  f  inch  broad,  and 
clothing  the  upper  part  of  the  vine  with  a  flowing 
mantle  of  white.  The  flowers  are  succeeded  by 
heads  of  feathered  seeds  which  are  still  more  orna- 
mental than  the  blossoms. 

(Atragene  Americana,  Sims.) — This  is  accredited 
by  others  to  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina,  but  it 
has  escaped  my  own  observation.  It  is  a  very  showy 
vine,  both  in  fruit  and  flower,  and,  like  the  preced- 
ing, is  woody  only  in  its  lower  parts.  It  climbs  over 
rocks  and  bushes  by  means  of  its  leaf-stalks.  The 
leaves  are  in  pairs  on  opposite  sides  of  the  stem, 
making  4  in  a  circle,  each  long  leaf-stalk  bearing  3 
leaflets.  The  flowers  are  bluish-purple,  2  to  3  inches 
broad,  followed  by  heads  of  seeds  which  have  long 
feathered  tails. 


A  TABULAR 

Viev/  of  the  Species, 

ARRANGED  ACCORDING   TO   THE   CHARACTER    OF 
THEIR  FRUIT. 


I.— TREES. 

Fleshy  Fruit. — Stone  Fruit. — Plums,  Cherries, 
Mock  Orange,  Devil  Wood.  Pulpy  Fruit. — Apples, 
Persimmon. 

Berries. — Red. — Holly,  Service  Tree,  Dogwood, 
Mountain  Ash,  Magnolias,  Yellow  "Wood,  Hackberry. 
Black  or  Blue. — Mulberry,  Palmetto,  Buckthorn, 
Black  Gum,  Cedar,  Sassafras,  Red  Bay.  Whitish. — 
China  Tree. 

Dry  Fruit. — Nuts. — Oaks,  Hickories,  Walnuts, 
Chestnut,  Chinquapin,  Beech,  Buckeye.  Cones, — 
Pines,  Firs,  Spruces,  White  Cedar  or  Juniper^  Cy- 
press. Pods — Locust,  Honey  Locust,  Catalpa,  Coffee 
Tree,  Red  Bud.  Tassels. — Willows,  Poplars  or  Cot- 
tonwoods.  Birches,  Hornbeam,  Iron  Wood.  Bur. — 
Sweet  Gum.  Nutlets. — Sycamore,  Planer  Tree.  Flat 
and  Winged. — Maples,  Ash-leaved  Maple,  Ashes, 
Elms.  Capsules.,  Large. — Tulip  Tree  or  Poplar^ 
Loblolly  Bay.  Small. — Linn  Tree,  Sorrel  Tree. 
Winged  Nuts. — Snow  Drop  Tree. 


A   TABULAR    VIEW   OF   THE   SPECIES.  195 

II.-SHRUBS. 

Fleshy  Fruit. — Stone  Fruit. — Plums,  Fringe 
Tree,  Oil  Nut.  Large  Fleshy. — Papaws,  Spanish 
Bayonet,  Bear  Grass,  Roses.  lied. — Red  Haws,  Bar- 
berry, Bermuda  Mulberry,  Huckleberry,  Creeping 
Huckleberry,  Bearberry,  Cranberry,  Elder,  Coral 
Berry,  Chokeberry,  Yopon,  Dalioon  Holly,  Sumach, 
Poison  Oak,  Flowering  Raspberry,  Mountain  Tea, 
Spice  Bush,    Pond    Bush,  Leather   Wood,    (Ilex.)* 

Berries.— i^/a^A:  or  Blue .—  l^Vdck  Haws,  Gallber- 
ries,  Dogwoods,  Privet,  Carolina  Buckthorn,  Prickly 
Ash,  Elder,  Dwarf  Palmetto,  Gooseberries,  Currants, 
Huckleberries,  Sparkleberry,  Blackberries,  Dew- 
berry, Raspberry.  Whitish. —  Mistletoe,  Deerberry, 
Dogwoods. 

Dry  Fruit. — Nuts. — Hazel,  Buckeye.  Nutlets. — 
Witch  Hazel,  Button  Bush,  Dwarf  Alder,  Wax  Myr- 
tle, Sweet  Fern.  Tassels  and  Cones. — Willows,  Al- 
der, Arbor  Vitae.  Bladdery. — Bladder  Nut,  Sweet 
Shrub.  Flat  and  Winged. — Maples,  Hop  Tree.  Naked 
Seeds. — Marsh  Elder,  Groundsel.  Grass-like. — Reed 
or  Cane. 

Dry  Capsules. — Laurel,  Ivy,  Wick3%  Hone}^- 
suckles.  Dog  Laurel,  Fetter  Bush,  Pepper  Bush, 
Stagger  Bush,  (Andromeda),  (Cassandra),  (Leuco- 
thoe),  Sweet  Pepper  Bush,  (Itea),  Sand  Myrtle,  He 
Huckleberry,    False    Heath,    Syringa,    Hydrangea, 


*N.  ]}.     Plants  without  a  popular  name  are  enclosed  in  parentheses, 
and  will  be  found  also  in  the  Index. 


196  A   TABULAR   VIEW    OF   THE   SPECIES. 

Hardback,  Queen  of  the  Meadow,  Bush  Honey- 
suckle, Strawberry  Bush,  Burning  Bush,  Trailing 
Arbutus,  (Hudsonia),  Swamp  Loosestrife,  Toothache 
Tree,  Indigo  Bush,  Mock  Orange,  (Stuartia),  (Stil- 
lingia),  (Darbya),  (Buckleya),  Red  Root,  Yellow 
Root,  Rock  Rose,  (Ascyrum),  Flowering  Moss. 


III.— VINES. 

Berries. — Reddish. — Grapes,  Woodbine,  Bamboo, 
Poison  Vine,  (Cocculus).  Blackish. — Grapes,  China 
Root,  Bamboo,  Sarsaparilla,  Virginia  Creeper,  Rattan, 
Moonseed,  (Sageretia),  (Berchemia). 

Pods. — Trumpet  Flower,  Cross  Vine,  Jessamine, 
Virgin's  Bower,  (Forsteronia). 

Capsules. — Bittersweet, Wild  Ginger, (Decumaria). 

Naked  and  Feathered  Seeds. — Virgin's  Bower, 
(Atragene). 


THE    MINOR 


Plants  of  North  Carolina, 


In  1867  the  State  printed  the  Second  Part  of  Dr. 
Curtis's  report  to  the  State  Geologist,  being  "a  cata- 
logue of  the  indigenous  and  naturalized  plants  of  the 
State." 

The  catalogue,  says  Dr.  Curtis  in  his  preface,  is  of 
"  interest  to  scientists  as  determining  the  localities 
and  range  of  our  vegetation,  and  as  being  much  the 
most  extensive  local  list  of  plants  ever  published  in 
North  America." 

It  is  not  reprinted  here,  because  those  interested 
can  obtain  copies  on  application  to  tlie  State  authori- 
ties at  Raleigh.  It  is  a  pamphlet  of  156  pages,  8vo. 
For  the  general  reader,  it  is  sufficient  to  give  here 
L     Dr.  Curtis's 

SUMMARY. 

Flowering  Plants. 

Exogenous,       .     .     .    1,362  species. 

Endogenous,     .     .     .       511 

1,873 


198      THE  MINOR  PLANTS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


Flowerless  Plants. 
Equisetacese, 
Filices,  •.  .  . 
Lycopodiaceae,  . 
*  Hydropterides, 
Musci,  .  .  . 
Hepaticese,  .  . 
Lichenes,      .     . 

Fungi — Hymenomycetes, 
Gasteromycetes, 
Coniomycetes, 
Hyphomycetes, 
Ascomycetes,  . 
Physomycetes, 
Doubtful  Genera, 


Characese, 
Algae,    . 


1  species. 

37 

9 

1 

198 

69 

217 


935 
150 
341 
188 
715 
21 
42 

2 
50 


632 


2,392 
52 


Total  species, 4,849 


PART  II. 


Forests,  Farms,  Population, 


OF 


NORTH  CAROLINA. 


» 


I 


THE 


Forests  of  North  Carolina. 


LOCATION  AND  EXTENT. 

Dr.  Curtis's  Woody  Plants  of  North  Caro- 
lina, reprinted  in  Part  I.  of  this  book,  furnishes  in- 
formation complete  and  accurate  of  a  Flora  which  is 
the  wonder  of  the  botanist. 

Part  II.,  it  is  believed,  conveys  knowledge  as  com- 
plete and  accurate  of  the  location  and  extent  of 
standing  forests. 

Fh'st^  is  reprinted  the  Botanical  Chapter  from  Dr. 
Kerr's  Geological  Survey  of  North  Carolina,  Volume 
I. ;  and. 

Second^  reports  from  the  several  counties  of  the 
State,  obtained  by  the  publisher  and  compiler  of  this 
volume  from  citizens  esteemed  the  best  informed. 


DR.  KERR'S  BOTANICAL  REPORT. 

It  has  long  been  known  to  botanists  that  the  terri-' 
tory  of  North  Carolina  presents  one  of  the  finest 
fields  in  the  United  States  for  collection,  on  account 
of  the  great    variety  and  interest    of  its  vegetable 


202  THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

productions.  Many  plants  of  northern  habit,  such 
as  are  common  in  the  White  Mountains,  for  example, 
and  along  the  northern  lakes,  find  their  southern 
geographical  limit  in  the  mountains  of  this  State ; 
and  quite  a  number  of  others  spread  from  the  Gulf 
and  the  Mississippi  Valley  to  the  Cape  Fear,  and 
even  to  Pamlico  Sound.  So  that  the  flora  of  this  State 
is  continental  in  character  and  range,  combining  the 
botanical  features  of  both  extremes  as  well  as  of  the 
intermediate  regions. 

The  results  of  the  preceding  discussion  of  ^  the 
climatology  of  the  State  furnish  ample  explanation 
of  the  fact.  The  close  connection  between  climate 
and  organic  life,  and  the  decisive  control  which  meteor- 
ological conditions  6xert  over  the  whole  character  and 
range  and  form  of  its  development,  render  it  practi- 
cable to  infer  the  latter  from  the  former,  at  least  as 
to  general  outlines. 

But  it  happens  that  the  botany  of  North  Carolina 
has  received  much  earlier  attention  and  a  far  greater 
amount  of  study,  and  has  been  much  more  fully 
worked  out  than  its  climatology,  so  that  the  inferen- 
tial process  has  needed  to  be  reversed,  and  the  range 
and  character  of  the  climate  to  be  deduced  from 
botanical  data.  This  is  due  in  large  part  to  the  at- 
tractive nature  of  the  field  to  the  botanical  explorer, 
which  has  engaged  the  interest  and  study  of  some  of 
the  most  famous  botanists  of  both  Europe  and  Amer- 
ica, from  the  time  of  Bartram's  tour,  in  1776,  and  of 
the   elder  Michaux,   1787,  and  of  the  younger,  an 


THE   FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  203 

equally  distinguished  botanist,  in  1802,  to  the  later 
explorations  of  Nuttall,  and  of  Dr.  Gray  and  Mr. 
Carey,  who  traversed  the  higher  ranges  of  our  moun- 
tains in  1841,  and  especially  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Curtis, 
to  whom  the  State  owes  a  debt,  in  this  regard,  which 
she  does  not  yet  fully  appreciate.  It  is  due  to  him 
more  than  to  any  one  else, — to  his  skill  and  zeal  in 
his  favorite  science,  that  North  Carolina  stands 
among  the  foremost  of  the  States  in  respect  to  the 
completeness  as  well  as  the  scientific  accuracy  of  the 
knowledge  which  the  world  possesses  of  her  singular 
botanical  wealth. 

In  witness  of  the  remarkably  wide  range  of  veget- 
able forms,  corresponding  to  the  variety  of  climatic 
conditions,  may  be  cited  the  fact  of  the  occurrence 
within  the  limits  of  the  State  on  the  one  hand,  of 
the  white  pine  (pinus  strohiis)  and  the  black  spruce 
(ahies  nigra)^  which  are  found  along  the  Appalachi- 
ans from  North  Carolina  to  the  White  Mountains  and 
Canada,  and  of  the  hemlock  spruce  {ahies  Canadensis)^ 
whose  range  reaches  from  our  mountains  to  Hudson's 
Bay ;  and  on  the  other,  of  several  species  of  magno- 
lia and  the  palmetto,  which  have  their  northern  limit 
in  the  southeast  part  of  the  State  and  spread  thence 
to  the  Gulf.  And  the  same  point  might  be  illustrated 
even  more  strongly  to  tlie  botanist,  by  the  mention 
of  other  but  inconspicuous  species  among  the  lower 
orders  of  plants,  as  the  mosses,  lichens,  etc. 

And  as  concerns  the  variety  of  plants  which  char- 
acterizes the  flora  of  the  State,  it  is  sufficient  to  men- 


204  THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

tion  the  fact  that  Dr.  Curtis's  Catalogue  contains 
nearly  2,500  sj^ecies,  leaving  out  the  mushrooms 
(^fungi)^  of  which  there  is  about  an  equal  number,  o^ 
almost  5,000  in  all. 

Dr.  Cooper  in  his  general  description  of  the  "  For- 
ests and  Trees  of  North  America  "  in  the  Smithsonian 
Report  for  1858,  says :  ''  Coming  next "  (from  the 
Canadian)  "  to  the  Appalachian  province,  we  find  a 
vast  increase  in  the  variety  of  our  forest  trees.  In 
fact,  looking  at  its  natural  products  collectively,  one 
of  the  most  striking,  as  compared  to  the  rest  of  the 
world  between  the  30th  and  45th  degrees  of  north 
latitude,  is  its  richness  in  trees,  Avhich  will  compare 
favorably  with  almost  any  part  of  the  tropics.  It 
contains  more  than  20  species  which  have  no  repre- 
sentatives in  the  temperate  climates  of  the  old  world, 
and  a  far  greater  number  of  species  of  the  forms 
found  there."  Some  of  our  most  valuable  timber 
trees  are  wholly  wanting,  as  the  hickory.  And  while 
there  are  not  50  indigenous  species  of  trees  in  Europe 
which  attain  a  height  of  50  feet,  there  are  above 
140  in  the  United  States,  and  more  than  20  of  these 
exceed  100  feet.  Says  Dr.  Curtis,  "In  all  the  ele- 
ments which  render  forest  scenery  attractive,  no  por- 
tion of  the  United  States  presents  them  in  happier 
combination,  in  greater  perfection,  or  in  larger  extent 
than  the  mountains  of  North  Carolina." 

And  in  order  to  realize  the  extent  to  which  this 
richness  of  forest  development  is  concentrated  within 
the  area  of  this  State,  it  is  only  necessary  to  call  at- 


THE   FORESTS    OF   NOIITH   CAROLINA. 


205 


tention  to  the  distribution  of  a  few  kinds  which  are 
dominant  and  characteristic.  Of  species  found  in 
the  United  States  (east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains), 
there  are 


Oaks, 

22, 

an 

d  19 

in 

North  C 

Jarol 

Pine^  (trees), 

8, 

8 

Spruces, 

5, 

4 

Ehns, 

5, 

'       3 

Walnuts, 

2, 

2 

Birches, 

5, 

3 

Maples, 

5, 

5 

Hickories, 

8, 

6 

(( 

Magnolias, 

7, 

7 

u 

And  as  to  the  first  and  most  important  group  of 
the  list,  Dr.  Curtis  has  called  attention  to  the  very 
striking  fact  that  there  are  more  species  of  oaks  in 
this  State  "  than  in  all  of  the  States  north  of  us,  and 
only  one  less  than  in  all  the  Southern  States,  east  of 
the  Mississippi." 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  kinds  of  trees  which 
characterize  this  flora  include  chiefly  such  as  are  most 
valuable  in  the  arts.  The  long-leaf  pine  alone  is  the 
basis  of  industries  whose  annual  products  in  this 
State  are  not  less  than  83,000,000.  The  juniper  and 
cypress  have  long  been  a  source  of  large  revenues  to 
the  whole  eastern  region.  And  it  is  worthy  of  men- 
tion in  this  connection,  that,  besides  the  present  crop 
of  trees,  there  are  over  large  areas  of  the  swamp 
lands  several  successive  generations  of  buried  forests, 


206  THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

whose  timber  is  in  good  preservation,  ready  to  be  ex- 
humed when  the  present  growth  shall  have  been 
exhausted. 

The  most  characteristic  and  prevalent  species  of 
the  middle  region  are  the  oaks.  Several  kinds  of 
white  oak,  so  much  in  demand,  and  so  highly  prized 
in  ship  building  and  numerous  domestic  arts,  are 
abundant  in  all  parts  of  this  division  and  especially 
in  the  mountains.  There  are  also  large  tracts  of 
white  pine  on  both  sides  of  the  Blue  Ridge.  The 
hickories  are  found  everywhere,  and  the  black  walnut 
is  plentiful  in  the  river  bottoms  and  on  the  fertile 
slopes  of  the  mountains,  so  common  as  to  be  used  for 
fencing  ;  and  the  wild  cherry,  mahogany  {hlach  MrcJi), 
and  several  species  of  maple  furnish  abundant  cabi- 
net materials;  and  to  these  should  be  added  the 
extensive  forests  of  holly  in  the  eastern  region. 

Nearly  every  one  of  the  20  kinds  of  timber  admit- 
ted to  the  New  York  ship-yards  as  suitable  for  build- 
ing vessels  is  found  in  this  State  in  abundance ;  and 
since  the  forests  of  the  North  Atlantic  States  are 
very  nearly  exhausted,  and  timber  for  ship  building 
is  brought  to  the  coast  from  the  upper  Mississippi, 
and  even  foreign  governments  are  exporting  large 
supplies  for  their  navy  yards  from  the  interior  of  the 
continent,  it  is  evident  that  our  forests  have  a  value 
and  are  entitled  to  a  consideration  which  they  have 
never  received  among  us.  We  have  still  some  40,- 
000  square  miles  of  forests  of  which  the  larger  part 
is  as  yet  .unviolated  by  the  woodman's  axe.     And  I 


THE   FOllESTS    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA.  207 

tliink  it  safe  to  say  that  the  intrinsic  value  of  this 
heritage  alone  is  such,  that  within  ten  years  it  will  be 
seen,  that  it  exceeds  the  present  total  valuation  of  the 
entire  property  of  the  State.  And  it  is  time  for  the 
people  of  the  State,  and  its  legislators  especially,  to 
begin  to  realize  and  take  account  of  the  fact,  that 
here  is  one  of  the  most  valuable,  as  it  is  also  one  of 
the  most  undeveloped  and  little  considered  of  her 
natural  resources.  And  its  value  is  appreciating 
more  rapidly  than  that  of  any  other  kind  of  property 
in  the  State ;  and  this  from  two  causes,  the  operation 
of  which  is  incessant  and  rapid,  and  the  results  inev- 
itable and  soon  to  become  actual,  viz. :  the  rapid  ex- 
haustion of  the  more  accessible  forests  of  the  conti- 
nent and  the  constantly  accelerating  consumption  of 
their  products,  and  the  increase  and  cheapening  of 
the  means  of  transportation  to  those  parts  of  the 
world  where  the  demand  is  greatest. 


COUNTY  REPORTS. 

Alexander.  (Area,  318  sq.  miles.)— Taylorsville, 
Oct.  13,  1882. — We  have  in  this  county  white  oak, 
post  oak,  red  oak,  black  oak,  Spanish  oak,  and  chest- 
nut oak ;  black  and  yellow  pine,  and  some  white 
pine  ;  cedar,  poplar  or  tulip  tree,  maple,  beccli,  birch, 
mahogany,  hickory,  dogwood,  walnut,  cherry,  chest- 
nut, ash,  black  and  sweet  gum,  cucumber  tree,  elm, 
etc.     The  prevailing  growth  is  the  different  varieties 


208  THE   FORESTS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

of  oak  and  pine.  At  least  one  half  of  the  county  is 
covered  with  native  forest,  to  say  nothing  about  what 
is  covered  with  old-field  pine. — J.  P.  M. 

Anson.  (525  square  miles.)  —  Raleigh,  Sept.  29, 
1882. — Anson  produces  as  great  a  variety  of  timbers, 
perhaps,  as  can  be  found  in  any  one  county  in  the 
State.  It  is  bounded  on  the  east  and  north  by  the 
Pee  Dee  and  Rocky  rivers,  into  which  flow  numerous 
small  streams  that  traverse  the  county,  and  along 
which  are  broad  areas  of  rich  bottom  lands  that  are 
covered  with  heavy  growth  of  the  finest  timbers. 
The  western  boundary  of  the  Long-leaf  Pine  region 
passes  across  the  eastern  end  of  the  county,  covering 
perhaps  one  fourth  of  its  area  with  timber  of  very 
superior  quality.  On  the  uplands  the  predominant 
growth  is  pine,  oak,  and  hickory,  each  of  which  is 
represented  by  several  species;  but  everywhere  al- 
most are  to  be  found  dogwood,  ash,  poplar,  gum, 
black  jack,  birch,  beech,  elm,  maple,  and  persimmon. 
Along  the  streams  the  haw  and  yellow  willow  abound. 
The  wooded  acreage  is  about  one  third  of  the  entire 
area  of  the  county. — L.  L.  P. 

Ashe.  (468  square  miles.)  —  Jefferson,  Sept.  2, 
1882. — There  is  no  pine  in  this  county  except  white 
pine  and  tamarack,  and  not  very  much  of  the  latter, 
— perhaps  1,000  acres.  There  is  perhaps  5,000  acres 
of  white  pine  forest  in  this  county  of  good  quality 
and  of  good  stand.  The  prevailing  growths  of  other 
timber  are  chestnut,  white  oak,  black  oak,  chestnut 
oak,  water  oak,  and  Spanish  oak  or  red  oak,  hickory. 


THE   FORESTS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA.  209 

walnut,  poplar,  asli,  sugar  maple,  silver  maple,  etc. 
There  is  a  large  acreage  of  spruce  pine,  and  there 
are  large  quantities  of  birch,  beech,  mahogany,  cu- 
cumber, locust,  wild  cherry,  buckeye,  etc.  The 
wooded  acreage  is  about  seventy  per  cent. — J.  W.  T. 

Bladen.  (1,000  sq.  miles.) — Elizabethtown,  Sept. 
7,  1882.  —  Long-leaf  pine  is  the  prevailing  growth, 
except  on  the  river  and  creeks,  where  there  are 
hickory,  different  kinds  of  oak,  some  walnut,  ash, 
etc.  My  estimate  is  that  nine  tenths  of  the  county 
is  in  timber. — J.  A.  M. 

Brunswick.  (975  sq.  miles.) — Town  Creek,  Sept. 
11,  1882. — All  of  our  uplands  are  long-leaf  pine  and 
scrub  oaks.  Our  bays  and  swamps  abound  with  cy- 
press, ash,  poplar,  juniper,  and  gum.  On  the  sea-coast 
from  Cape  Fear  to  the  South  Carolina  line  there  is  live- 
oak  and  cedar,  valuable  for  ship-building. — E.  W.  T. 

Brunsw^ick,Columblts,  Bladen,  Robeson,  Rich- 
mond, Anson,  Union,  Mecklenburg,  Lincoln, 
Gaston,  Cleveland.  (Area,  7,675  sq.  miles.)  Route 
of  Carolina  Central  Railroad. — Shoe  Heel,  Aug.  24, 
1882. — Brunswick  County  has  a  wood  acreage  of 
about  two  thirds.  Prevailing  growths  are  pine, 
cypress,  and  oak,  of  which  one  half  is  pine. 

Columi)us  County  has  a  wood  acreage  of  about  two 
thirds.  Prevailing  growths  are  pine,  oak,  and  cypress, 
of  Avhich  one  half  is  pine. 

Bhuh'n  County  has  a  wood  acreage  of  about  two 
thirds.  Prevailing  growths  are  pine,  oak,  and  cy- 
press, of  which  one  half  is  pine. 


210  THE   FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLIKA. 

Robeson  County  has  a  wood  acreage  of  about  two 
thirds.  Prevailing  growths  are  pine,  oak,  and  cy- 
press, of  which  one  half  is  pine. 

Richmond  County  has  a  wood  acreage  of  about 
two  thirds.  Prevailing  growths  are  pine,  juniper, 
and  oak,  of  which  one  half  is  pine. — W.  B.  S. 

Charlotte,  Aug.  28,  1882. — Cleveland:  white,  post, 
black,  red,  Spanish,  water,  and  some  chestnut  oak; 
hickory,  ash,  walnut,  and  some  poplar,  and  short- 
leaf  pine.  Oaks  are  the  prevailing  growth  in  this 
county. 

Gaston  :  About  same  as  above,  except  that  more 
pine  is  found  in  this  county. 

Lincoln :     Same. 

Mecklenburg  :  All  the  oaks  grow  here ;  also  hick- 
ory, ash,  maple,  birch,  elm,  poplar,  and  short-leaf 
pine  and  some  walnut.  Oak  and  hickory  is  the  pre- 
vailing growth. 

Union  :  All  the  different  oaks  grow  in  this  county, 
but  not  so  abundant  as  in  the  counties  named  above. 
Short-leaf  pine  is  the  most  abundant. 

Anson  :  White  oak  ;  post,  black,  red,  Spanish  and 
water  oak  ;  hickory,  poplar,  ash,  elm,  sweet  gum ; 
birch,  short-leaf  pine.  South-east  part  of  county  has 
some  long-leaf  pine. — T.  W.  W. 

Caldwell,  Wilkes,  Alleghany,  Ashe,  Wa- 
tauga, Mitchell,  Yancey,  Burke.  (Area,  3,468 
sq.  miles  ) — Patterson,  Aug.  29,  1882.  —  ....  I  now 
address  myself  to  your  questions,  and  give  first  a  list 
of  all  the  trees  that  I  can  now  remember  as  native 


THE  FORESTS   OF  NORTH   CAROLINA.  211 

here.     2d.    Such  as  are    of  commercial   value.     3d. 
Acreage  and  location. 

Native  forest  growth  of  Caldwell  County. — Oaks  ; 
White,  black,  red,  Spanish,  chestnut,  water,  post, 
scrub,  black  jack.  Chestnut,  one  kind.  Pine  :  Yel- 
low, white,  spruce  or  hemlock,  black,  alligator  (?), 
old-field,  balsam  or  fir.  Hickory :  White,  red,  scaly- 
bark.  Maple  :  Sugar,  bird's-eye,  white,  curly,  black. 
Holly,  one  kind.  Red  elm.  Red  cedar.  Locust: 
White,  yellow,  and  black.  Botanists  may  not  admit 
this  distinction,  but  there  is  a  difference.  Walnut : 
Black,  Avhite.  Poplar :  Yellowy  white.  Beech,  one 
kind.  Sycamore,  one  kind.  Birch:  White.  Ash, 
one  kind.  Linn,  one  kind  (spelling  not  vouched  for). 
Cucumber  (Magnolia  cucumifera).  Dogwood.  Per- 
simmon. Mulberry:  White,  yellow.  Wild  Cherry. 
Mahogany,  or  Mountain  Birch  (local  name).  Wahoo 
(spelling  doubtful).  Slippery  Elm.  Catalpa.  Aspen. 
Willow :  White,  golden,  weeping.     Buckeye. 

Such  as  are  of  commercial  value,  and  their  uses. — 
White  Oak ;  (ship  timber,  wagons,  staves.)  Chest- 
nut ;  (furniture  panels,  etc.)  YelloAv  Pine ;  (lum- 
ber.) White  Pine;  (lumber,  sash,  doors,  blinds.) 
Hickory ;  (wagon  material,  handles,  etc.  All  these 
kinds  used,  but  white  the  best).  Maple :  Bird's-eye, 
Curly;  (furniture,  panels,  etc.  White  and  Black 
used  for  heavy  frame-work  for  machines  requiring 
strength  and  durability.)  Holly;  (to  some  extent 
for  furniture,  but  more  for  spools,  bobbins,  etc.) 
Locust,   yellow;    (ship  pins  and  posts.)      Walnut, 


212  THE   FOEESTS    OF    NORTH   CAEOLINA. 

black  ;  (furniture,  ornamental  work.)  Poplar,  yellow  ; 
(shingles  and  lumber.)  I  think  this  wood  would  be 
excellent  for  patterns  for  foundries,  but  is  as  yet  un- 
tried. Ash ;  (wagons,  handles,  panels.)  Dogwood  ; 
(shuttles.)  Persimmon  ;  (shuttles.)  Wild  Cherry  ; 
(furniture  and  ornamental  work.)  In  addition  to  the 
above,  the  chestnut  oak  is  valuable  for  its  bark  for 
tanning  purposes,  for  which  it  is  more  valuable  than 
all  other  trees. 

Remarks. — The  southern  one-third  of  the  county 
of  Caldwell,  or  that  part  drained  by  tiie  Catawba 
River,  has  a  uniform  and  heavy  growth  of  yellow 
pine,  to  the  exclusion  of  every  other  growth.  This 
covers  an  area  of  perhaps  one  hundred  square  miles, 
in  forest. 

North  of  this,  on  the  spurs  and  in  the  valleys  of 
the  Brushy  Mountain  range,  is  a  forest  growth  of 
great  and  remarkable  variety,  embracing  all  the  oaks, 
poplars,  and  to  some  extent  nearly  all  the  trees  enu- 
merated above,  with  the  exception  of  the  balsam  or 
fir.  The  prevailing  growth,  however,  is  oak,  hickory, 
and  chestnut. 

Still  north  of  this,  and  between  the*  Yadkin  River 
and  the  top  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  come  in  the  walnut 
and  cherry,  cucumber,  locust,  maples,  and  white 
pine ;  and  in  the  extreme  north,  along  the  high  peaks 
of  the  Blue  Ridge,  the  balsam,  which  is  only  valuable 
for  the  aromatic  and  medicinal  gum  found  in  blisters 
on  its  outer  bark. 

As  I  have  already  remarked,  our  forests  are  greatly 


THE   FORESTS    OF   KORTH   CAROLINA.  213 

diversified  except  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county, 
where  the  yellow  pine  prevails.  In  order  to  give 
you  an  approximate  idea  of  the  location  of  these 
forests,  I  will  say  that  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
county  there  is  an  area  of  yellow  pine  covering 
65,000  acres.  In  the  central  part  of  the  county,  from 
west  to  east,  is  the  oak,  hickory,  chestnut,  etc.,  em- 
bracing about  102,000  acres.  * 

North  of  this,  toward  the  top  bf  the  Blue  Ridge, 
comes  in  all  the  white  pine,  walnut,  cherry,  etc.,  that 
we  have ;  and  I  suppose  we  might  say  that  here  the 
white  pine  was  the  prevailing  growth,  covering  at  a 
rough  estimate  122,000  acres. 

So  that  we  have  a  total  wooded  area  as  follows  : 

Yellow  pine, 65,000  acres 

Oak,  hickory,  etc.,       •     -     •     102,000     " 
White  pine, 122,000     " 


Total  forest  area,  ....  289,000  acres 
What  has  been  said  of  Caldwell  applies  equally, 
except  perhaps  as  to  geographical  location  of  the 
forests,  to  the  counties  of  Wilkes,  Alleghany,  Ashe, 
Watauga,  Mitchell,  Yancey,  and  Burke,  except  that 
in  Caldwell  alone  will  you  find  au}^  considerable 
quantity  of  yellow  pine,  and  in  all  the  others  men- 
tioned, except  Wilkes  and  Burke,  there  is  more 
white  pine  than  we  have.  Outside  of  these  north- 
western counties  above  mentioned  you  will  find  no 
white  pine  in  North  Carolina  worth  mentioning. 
There   is   also    more    clierr}',   walnut,   and   ash   in 


214  THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

Ashe,  Watauga,  Mitchell,  and  Yancey  than  we  have, 
and  this  valuable  timber  extends  on  west  to  Duck- 
town  in  large  quantities  and  great  perfection. 

Of  the  other  north-western  counties  noted  above, 
I  estimate  the  wooded  areas  as  follows  : 

Wilkes, 480,000  acres 

Alleghany, 179,200     " 

Ashe, 216,000     " 

Watauga, 245,400     " 

Mitchell, 260,000     " 

Yancey, 234,000     " 

Burke, 302,000     " 

E.  J. 

Cat^iden.  (280  square  miles.)  South  Mills,  Aug. 
24, 1882. — There  is  considerable  Long-Leaf  Pine  (Lob- 
lolly) in  this  county.  Half  of  our  lands  are  in  the 
primitive  forest,  and  at  least  20  per  cent,  of  the  growth 
of  timber  now  standing  is  this  kind  of  pine.  Our 
swamps,  which  cover  at  least  one-fifth  of  the  area  of 
Camden,  abound  in  juniper  and  cypress  (both  kinds 
very  valuable),  of  which  60  to  75  per  cent,  have  been 
removed.  Some  oak  is  still  standing,  but  has  mostly 
been  cut,  not  over  10  per  cent,  remaining.  No  other 
kinds  of  valuable  timber  remaining  in  the  county. — 
F.  N.  M. 

Carteret.  (525  square  miles.) — Sanders'  Store, 
Sept.  26,  1882. — The  timber  in  our  forests  consists  of 
long-leaf  and  short-leaf  pine,  as  the  principal  and 
most  abundant  kinds  ;  the  various  kinds  of  oaks,  the 


THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  215 

most  abundant  kinds  being  the  red  and  black-jack  va- 
rieties. Our  swamps  abound  with  oak  and  cypress. 
We  have  some  hickory,  but  of  smaller  size. — J.W.  S. 

Cabarrus.  (400  square  miles.) — Pioneer  Mills, 
Aug.  26, 1882, — We  have  short-leaf  (yellow)  pine,  hick- 
ory, post,  black,  red,  white  and  Spanish  oaks.  Oaks  of 
the  different  varieties  (interspersed  with  pine  in  cer- 
tain sections)  are  the  prevailing  growth.  But  little 
walnut  or  finer  woods.  In  the  better  sections  of 
lands  timber  is  very  scarce.  In  the  poorer  sections 
timber  more  abundant  and  of  but  little  value  now. — 
J.  C.  B. 

Catawba.  (375  square  miles.) — Hickory,  Sept.  6, 
1882. — We  have  very  little  walnut  and  hickory.  Our 
forests  are  of  yellow  pine,  white,  post,  black  and  red 
oaks.  Pine  is  the  principal  growth. — H. 
.  Chatham.  (825  square  miles.) — Pittsboro,  Sept. 
11,  1882. — Our  forests  consist  of  oaks,  hickory,  dog- 
wood, walnut,  old-field  pine.  The  different  varieties 
of  oak,  the  prevailing  growth. — J.  A.  A. 

Caswell.  (400  square  miles.)— Leasburg,  Aug.  22, 
1882. — In  quantity  the  oak  predominates ;  white, 
red,  post  oak,  Spanish,  black  and  willow  oak,  are 
found  in  abundance  in  all  original  forests,  in  every 
part  of  the  county,  and  in  the  western  portion  the 
chestnut  oak  is  abundant.  Hickory  is  next  most 
abundant.  The  pine  is  in  all  the  original  forests  fast 
passing  away,  though  there  are  sections  of  the  county 
in  which  this  valuable  tree  is  abundant.  There  is 
little  or  no  walnut  now  in  our  forests,  but  there  are 


216  THE  FORESTS   OF  NORTH   CAROLINA. 

many  large  old  walnuts,  that,  though  scattered,  would 
afford  large  quantities  of  valuable  timber.  The  dog- 
wood is  abundant,  and  is  in  all  parts  of  the  county ; 
so  is  the  persimmon.  The  poplar  (tulip)  is  not  abun- 
dant, yet  there  is  a  good  quantity  of  this  valuable  tim- 
ber in  all  our  forests.  The  gums  (both  sweet  and 
black)  are  common  ;  so  is  the  sycamore.  Apart  from 
our  original  forests  there  are  large  tracts  of  country 
covered  with  forests  of  pines,  which  is  a  valuable 
local  timber  used  in  the  construction  of  tobacco 
houses  and  log  dwelling  houses  and  other  buildings 
important  to  the  husbandman  and  cultivator  of  the 
soil.  So  much  of  the  land  of  Caswell  is  now  covered 
with  a  growth  of  trees,  called  here  the  "second 
growth,"  of  a  mixed  character,  with  oak,  hickory, 
pine,  gum  and  dogwood,  etc.,  prevailing,  that  it 
sometimes  proves  difficult  to  ascertain  the  end  of  the 
second  growth  and  the  beginning  of  the  original 
forest ;  and  there  are  such  extensive  tracts  grown  up 
in  young  pine,  which  if  left  alone  a  few  years  will 
become  forests  indeed,  that  it  would  not  be  an  over 
estimate  to  say  that  one-half  of  the  land  of  Caswell 
county  was  either  in  original  forest  or  in  process  of 
making  forests. — G.  N.  T. 

Cleveland.  (425  square  miles.) — Cleveland  Mills, 
Aug.  25,  1882. — Our  forests  are  composed  principally 
of  the  usual  variety  of  oaks,  black,  red,  Spanish, 
wdiite  and  post  oak,  with  some  chestnut  oak  on  the 
high  ridges  and  mountains,  yellow  pine,  hickory  ;  and 
on  the  low  lands  and  streams  white  maple,  beech,  birch 


THE   FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  217 

and  sycamore.  Chestnut  is  abundant  in  the  moun- 
tain j)ortion  of  the  county,  and  a  considerable  amount 
of  wild  or  black  locust.  Our  woods,  especially  "  old 
fields,"  as  they  are  called  here,  also  abound  in  dog- 
wood. When  our  ancestors  '^tvore  out''  a  piece  of 
land  and  abandoned  its  cultivation  it  never  failed  to 
bring  an  abundant  crop  of  ••'  old  field  "  pine.  It  has 
very  little  heart,  and  for  exposed  parts  is  not  durable, 
but  still  it  is  quite  valuable  for  many  purposes,  grow- 
ing very  tall  and  thick  on  the  ground.  We  also  have 
the  persimmon,  a  very  hard  wood.  Walnut  is  scarce 
here,  though  there  is  a  little  black  walnut  in  the 
mountains,  and  a  few  domestic  trees  around  the 
farms.  The  prevailing  growth  is  yellow  pine,  a  vari- 
ety of  oaks  and  hickory.  Taking  the  whole  county 
over  there  is  about  50  per  cent,  in  virgin  forest. 
With  the  lands  covered  with  second  or  old  field 
growth  there  may  be  60  or  65  per  cent,  in  timber. — H. 
F.  S. 

Cumberland.  (950  square  miles.) — Fa3^etteville, 
Aug.  25,  1882. — I  have,  with  the  aid  of  others,  with 
some  care  made  an  approximate  estimate  of  the  prin- 
cipal woods  of  this  county,  statement  appended : 

Number  of  acres, 4*^5,000 

Long-leaf  Pines, 350,000 

Converted  into  lumber  would  make,  350,000,000  ft. 
On  same  lands  Short-leaf  in  bottoms 

and  swamps, 50,000,000  " 

Poplars, 150,000,000  " 

Cypress,        400,000,000  " 


218  THE   FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

Black,  sweet  and  other  gums,     .     .  300,000,000  £t. 

Juniper, 60,000,000  " 

Beech, 50,000,000  " 

White,  water  and  red  oak,      .     .     .  50,000,000  " 

Besides  considerable  quantities  of  dogwood,  hick- 
ory, bull  bay,  mulberry ;  and  in  river  bottoms  and 
adjacent,  sycamore  and  black  walnut. — J.  D.  W. 

Cumberland,  Harnett,  Moore,  Chatham, 
Randolph,  Guilford,  Forsyth,  Stokes,  Surry, 
Yadkin,  Wilkes,  Caldwell,  Mitchell.  (Area 
7,656  square  miles.)  Route  of  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin 
Valley  Hailroad. — Extracts  from  Special  Report  of 
State  Creologist  Kerr. — "  The  above  facts — the  variety 
of  soils,  the  wide  range  of  temperature,  and  the 
abundant  rainfall,  have,  of  course,  found  expression 
in  a  correspondingly  great  range  of  natural  products, 
the  flora  having  a  really  continental  breadth  and  va- 
riety, from  the  palmetto  and  live  oak  on  the  one  hand, 
to  the  white  pine  and  Canadian  fir  on  the  other,  so 
that  what  I  have  said  in  the  geological  report  of  the 
variety  and  richness  of  the  forests  of  the  entire  State 
may  be  applied  with  scarce  a  modification  to  this 
tract,  which  includes  both  the  extremes  that  gave  its 
unique  breadth  of  climatic  and  botanical  character- 
istics to  the  whole.  That  is,  there  are  about  one 
hundred  species  o:^  woods — more  than  in  all  Europe ; 
of  twenty-two  species  of  oaks  in  the  United  States 
(east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains),  nineteen  are  found 
here ;  all  (eight)  of  the  pines ;  four  out  of  five 
spruces ;  all  (five)  of  the  maples ;  both  of  the  wal- 


THE   FORESTS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA.  219 

nuts ;  three  of  the  five  birches  ;  six-  of  the  eight  hick- 
ories ;  and  all  (seven)  of  the  magnolias  ;  more  spe- 
cies of  oaks  than  in  all  the  States  north  of  us.  It 
goes  without  saying  that  here  is  a  source  of  business, 
of  freights  and  manufactures  capable  of  immediate 
and  indefinite  expansion  and  development.  Of  the 
tvi^enty  kinds  of  timber  admitted  to  the  ship-yards  of 
New  York,  nearly  all  are  found  here.  The  following 
is  a  partial  catalogue  of  the  commercial  tind)ers  com- 
mon to  one  or  another  section  along  this  tract :  Pine, 
six  species  ;  white  pine  ;  fir,  three  species  ;  hemlock  ; 
juniper;  cypress;  red  cedar;  oak,  fourteen  species; 
hickory,  six  species  ;  walnut,  two  species  ;  chestnut ; 
beech ;  black  locust ;  maple,  three  species ;  ash,  four 
species  ;  elm,  three  species ;  cherry  ;  holly ;  dogwood  ; 
gum,  two  species ;  sassafras ;  palmetto ;  magnolia 
(cucumber  tree)  ;  persimmon ;  poplar ;  birch,  two 
species ;  sycamore  ;  tulip  tree  (poplar)  ;  linn  (bass- 
wood)  ;  sixty-four  species,  valuable  for  their  timber. 
Among  these,  a  single  species,  the  long-leaf  pine, 
yields  in  timber  and  naval  stores,  products  of  83,000,- 
000  value  annually;  and  the  long-leaf  pine  belt  is 
traversed  by  more  than  fifty  miles  of  tlie  C.  F.  &  Y. 
V.  R.  R.  There  are  many  other  trees  and  shrubs  of 
less  importance,  or  whose  value  consists  less,  or  not 
at  all,  in  their  timber,  but  in  their  leaves  or  bark,  as 
the  sumac,  sweet  gum,  cane,  etc. ;  and  in  addition  to 
these,  several  hundred  species  of  medicinal  plants  are 
gathered  for  export  to  all  parts  of  the  world  (such 
as  ginseng,  hellebore,  etc.),  amounting  to  many  thou- 


220  THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

sand  tons  a  year,  chiefly  from  the  mountain  section. 
Thus  it  will  be  Seen,  that  in  these  indigenous  forest 
products  are  found  the  means  and  materials  for  large 
businesses  and  freights  for  an  indefinite  time ;  and 
the  value  of  these  resources,  and  the  demand  for 
them,  increases  rapidly  year  by  year,  as  the  accessible 
forest  regions  of  the  continent  are  more  and  more 
rapidly  suffering  exhaustion.  The  shops  of  Pitts- 
burg, with  their  annual  consumption  of  50,000,000 
cubic  feet  of  timber,  having  exhausted  the  forests  of 
several  States,  are  already  turning  this  way  for  their 
future  supply ;  and  so  of  Cincinnati  and  of  Chicago, 
as  the  forests  of  Michigan  and  Upper  Wisconsin 
swiftly  disappear. 

'•'Cape  Fear  Section  of  Route. —  From  the  upper 
Cape  Fear,  above  Fayetteville  for  50  miles,  will 
come  large  shipments  of  timber  and  naval  stores,  as 
heretofore.  There  are  many  hundreds  of  square 
miles  of  the  long-leaf  pine  forests  in  this  section  yet 
to  be  opened  to  commerce.  It  will  be  seen,  by  refer- 
ence to  the  United  States  Census,  that  this  trade 
amounts  to  more  than  three  millions  per  annum,  and 
a  large  part  of  it  is  concentrated  along  the  Cape  Fear. 
The  returns  for  1879  give  the  shipments  of  naval 
stores  from  Fayetteville  as  aggregating  96,000  barrels. 

■''-Deep  River  Section.  —  In  this  section  the  long 
leaf  pine  and  oak  forests  meet.  There  are  some  fine 
bodies  of  the  latter  along  the  river  bottoms  and  those 
of  its  tributaries,  and  all  over  the  intervening  ridges 
and  hills,  for  a  dozen  miles  above  the  Gulf;  and  with 


THE   FORESTS    OF   NOIITH    CAROLINA.  221 

the  various  species  of  oak  are  foiiiid  other  valuable 
woods — Avaliiut,  hickory  and  dogwood,  etc.,  in  abun- 
dance. A  company  from  Baltimore  are  making  ar- 
rangements to  ship  large  quantities  of  the  two  latter 
woods  this  season. 

^'•Midland  Section, — This  portion  of  the  tract  in- 
cludes the  upper  part  of  Randolph  and  Chatham,  a 
large  part  of  Guilford  and  Forsyth,  Stokes,  Yadkin, 
Surry,  Wilkes  and  Caldwell — a  region  of  nearly  as 
great  extent,  and  of  more  varied  and  abundant  re- 
sources, than  some  entire  States.  It  contains  wide 
stretches  of  the  finest  forests  in  their  primeval  state. 
They  abound,  in  extraordinary  richness,  along  the 
streams  in  the  southern  part  of  Guilford  and  along 
many  of  the  intervening  ridges,  and  on  the  upper 
waters  of  Haw  River  in  the  western  and  northern 
portions  of  the  county ;  and  again  on  the  head 
streams  of  the  Dan,  on  the  flanks  of  the  Sauratown 
Mountains,  and  in  the  vallej'S  of  the  Yadkin  and  its 
numerous  tributaries  that  come  down  from  the  slopes 
of  the  Blue  Ridge.  These  will  furnish  immense 
quantities  of  white  oak,  and  other  species  of  oak, 
hickory,  walnut,  poplar,  while  the  uplands  and  ridges 
and  the  spurs  of  the  mountains  abound  in  hickory, 
dogwood,  yellow  pine,  chestnut  and  black  locust. 
And  above  Patterson  there  are  large  forests  of  white 
pine. 

'"'' Mountain  Section. — The  timber  produrts  of  this 
section  are  also  of  immense  extent.  The  largest  and 
finest  cherry  and  walnut  timber  grows  in  these  moun- 


222  THE  FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

tain  coves,  with  curled  maple  and  black  birch  (or 
mahogany).  I  have  seen  here  forests  of  cherry,  and 
have  measured  trees  of  more  than  three  feet  in  diam- 
eter, and  clear  of  limb  for  75  feet.  And  almost  un- 
broken forests  of  the  heaviest  oak  timber ;  and  chest- 
nut, poplar,  hemlock,  white  pine,  linn,  black  locust 
and  birch,  mantle  cove,  ridge  and  mountain  slope,  to 
the  highest  summits." 

Currituck.  (200  sq.  miles.) — Baelie,  Aug.  28, 
1882. — The  navy  yard  at  Portsmouth,  Va.,  has  long 
since  absorbed  all  the  valuable  oak.  The  avaricious 
and  insatiable  saw  mills,  together  with  the  desire  of 
every  man  who  could  buy  a  pair  of  oxen  and  "  Car- 
ry-Log," have  demolished  and  transported  nearly  all  of 
our  pine ;  to  such  an  extent  have  they  carried  on 
lumbering  that  many  pieces  or  sticks  will  not  measure 
100  feet  board  measure.  Holly  all  gone  to  the  north- 
ern cities.  Some  cypress  yet  remains  in  inaccessible 
swamps.  Juniper  very  scarce,  but  cheap  buckets  in 
abundance.  This  certainly  looks  like  a  gloomy  re- 
port, but  more  truth  than  poetry.  It  is  true  we  have 
some  scattering  small  tracts  of  fair  pine,  but  few  in- 
deed. The  prevailing  growth  now  that  reaches  the 
vision  is  pine — pine  saplings,  sweet  and  black  gum, 
and  occasionally  some  poplar  and  hickory.  I  cannot 
inform  you  with  accuracy  of  the  wooded  acreage, 
but  I  presume  I  would  not  be  far  from  correct  to  say 
three-fifths.— W.  H.  C. 

Davie.  (300  sq.  miles.) — Farmington,  August  29, 
1882.     We  have  the  different  kinds  of  oaks,  white. 


THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  223 

post,  black  and  red  oaks,  hickory,  popL^r,  pine,  ash, 
gum,  wahiut,  chestnut,  dogwood,  persimmon,  etc. 
The  prevailing  growth  is  oak  and  short-leaf  pine. 
The  wooded  acreage  is  about  one-third — covered  with 
oak  and  short-leaf  pine. —  G.  W.  J. 

Davidson.  (600  sq.  miles.) — Lexington,  Sept.  30, 
1882. — We  have  in  our  forests  oaks,  pine,  persim- 
mon, walnut,  and  all  the  hard  woods.  The  oaks  pre- 
dominate, though  pine  is  very  abundant.  Two 
thirds  of  the  county  in  woodland. — J.  H.  W. 

Duplin.  (725  sq.  miles.)— Faison,  Sept.  2T,  1882. 
— We  have  very  little  long-leaf  pine  left  in  the  upper 
section  of  the  county ;  steam  mills  and  forest  fires 
have  thinned  it  out.  In  a  few  years  we  can  with 
much  difficulty  get  timber  enough  to  keep  up  fences 
and  furnish  firewood.  Ours  is  the  cotton  section  of 
the  county.  There  is  a  good  deal  of  timber  in  the 
lower  part  of  the  county  away  from  the  railroad. 
We  have  quite  a  number  of  large  swamps  in  the 
county,  well  timbered  with  short-leaf  pine,  ash,  pop- 
lar, maple,  cypress,  etc., — by  estimation  over  55,000 
acres  of  good  unimproved  swamp  land.  Since  the 
long-leaf  pine  has  been  used  and  burnt,  the  forest  is 
covered  with  short-leaf  pine,  small  oaks,  and  black 
jack.— W.  E.  11. 

Edgecombe.  (500  sq.  miles.)— Old  Sparta,  Aug. 
22,  1882.  —  Our  forests  are  of  long-leaf  pine  and 
cypress,  the  former  largely  predominating.  Probably 
fifty  per  cent,  of  the  land  is  in  woods,  but  generally 
poorly  timbered ;  yet  there  is  a  sufficiency  of  both 


224  THE   FORESTS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

pine  and  cypress  for  home  consumption.  The  Sea- 
board and  Raleigh  Railroad,  now  building  a  bridge 
across  the  Tar  at  Tarboro,  have  imported  a  large 
portion  of  their  timbers  from  South  Carolina,  not 
that  such  stuff  could  not  be  had  in  this  section,  but 
it  is  not  now  so  accessible. — E.  C. 

Franklin.  (425  sq.  miles.) — Louisburg,  Sept.  9, 
1882. — We  have  oak — many  varieties,  pine,  hickor}^, 
ash,  willow  oak,  maple,  elm,  beech,  birch,  gum  — 
several  kinds,  sycamore,  cedar,  holly,  locust,  mul- 
berry, sassafras,  some  walnut — though  not  abundant, 
some  cypress,  and  in  fact  all  the  varieties  of  forest 
groAv'th  found  in  the  central  portion  of  the  State. 
The  prevailing  growth  in  the  original  forests  in  the 
northern  and  western  portion  of  the  county  is  oak, 
hickory,  yellow  pine,  dogwood,  etc. ;  in  the  southern 
and  south-eastern  portion  of  the  county,  added  to 
these  is  the  long-leaf  pine.  Old-field  pine  is  abun- 
dant all  over  the  county.  About  ten  per  cent,  of  the 
area  of  the  county  is  in  original  forest  of  pine,  oak, 
hickory,  etc.  There  is  a  much  larger  acreage  of 
old-field  pine. — J.  J.  D. 

Forsyth.  (350  sq.  miles.)— Salem,  Aug.  22, 1882. 
In  some  sections  of  our  county  there  is  considerable 
short-leaf  pine,  but  the  prevailing  growth  is  oak, 
mixed  with  hickory  and  dogwood.  We  have  some 
poplar,  persimmon,  etc.  The  chestnuts  are  dying 
out  fast.  Probably  one  third  of  the  county  is  in 
forest,  one  third  cut  over  and  growing  up  in  brush, 
old  fields  thrown  out,  and  old-field  pines,  and  one 


THE  FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  225 

tliird  actually  in  cultivation.  In  these  last  years, 
timber  has  been  cut  very  fast  for  building  material, 
tobacco  boxes,  spokes  and  handles,  and  shuttle 
blocks,  and  especially  as  fuel  for  our  growing  towns, 
but  I  am  happy  to  add  that  our  "  fence  law  "  area  is 
widening  too,  and  tlie  young  growth  on  many  an  old 
hillside  gives  cheering  promise  for  the  future. — J. 
W.  F. 

Gates.  (375  sq.  miles.)  —  Gatlington,  Sept.  20, 
1882.  —  Our  forests  contain  pine,  three  varieties : 
long-strawed,  medium-strawed  or  ordinary,  and  the 
short-strawed  or  rosemary;  oak,  several  varieties, 
named  in  order  of  the  prevailing  varieties  —  red, 
wdiite,  post,  black  jack,  water,  Spanish,  turkey,  chin- 
quapin, and  the  over-cup ;  ash ;  gum,  sweet,  black, 
and  papaw;  poplar,  persimmon,  juniper,  cj^press, 
cedar,  a  sprinkling  of  mulberry,  holly,  maple,  dog- 
wood, sour-wood,  elm,  beech,  birch,  and  some  few 
others.  The  long-leaved  pine  is  confined  mostly  to 
the  sand  banks  bordering  the  Chowan  River,  though 
it  is  found  to  some  extent  wherever  the  land  is  sandy. 
It  has  all  been  cut,  or  nearly  so.  The  prevailing 
varieties  are  the  ordinary  pine,  oak  (red  and  white), 
gum  (sweet  and  black),  ash,  hickory. 

I  suppose  fully  three  fourths  of  the  area  of  this 
county  is  covered  by  forest,  including  old  fields. 
There  is  a  large  quantity  of  pine  timber  and  a  good 
deal  of  oak.  The  pine,  oak,  and  cypress  are  being 
rapidly  cut  and  in  a  few  years  will  all  be  gone. — J. 
J.  G. 

8 


226  THE   FORESTS    OF   NOETH   CAROLINA. 

Gaston.  (350  sq.  miles.)  —  Gastonia,  Aug.  23, 
1882. — As  to  the  kinds  of  timber  in  our  forests,  pine 
is  the  most  numerous,  both  yellow  and  white.  No 
long-leaf  grows  in  our  section.  Our  forests  are 
about  an  equal  mixture  of  all  the  different  kinds  of 
oaks,  such  as  white,  black,  red,  chestnut,  Spanish, 
post,  etc.  There  are  also  the  pin  and  water  oaks, 
which  grow  along  the  swamps  and  Avatercourses. 
The  gum  and  black  jack  are  found  occasionally,  but 
the  larger  portion  of  our  forests  is  pine,  and  for  the 
most  part  on  the  ridges.  The  most  valuable  land 
consists  of  hickory  and  dogwood,  and  occasionally 
the  walnut.  In  the  swamps,  maple,  ash,  and  birch 
are  found.  About  three  fifths  of  our  land  is  yet 
forest,  and  a  great  portion  of  our  poorest,  worn-out 
old  fields  have  grown  up  in  old-field  pines,  and  when 
cleared  up  produce  cotton  and  wheat  as  well,  if  not 
better  than  new  forest  land.  The  supply  of  firewood 
timber  is  very  plentiful,  but  valuable  timber  for 
rails,  planks,  shingles,  etc  ,  is  becoming  very  scarce, 
and  especially  heart  timber.  Sap  timber  is  inex- 
haustible, but  the  heart  for  rails,  etc.,  is  becoming  so 
scarce  that  our  county  demands  the  fence  law. — 
D.  A.  J. 

Graham.  (250  sq.  miles.) — Robbinsville,  Aug  27, 
1882.  —  Our  forest  woods  are  walnut,  poplar,  chest- 
nut, white  oak,  black  oak,  chestnut  oak,  red  oak, 
Spanish  oak  and  post  oak,  hickory,  cherry,  birch, 
linn,  spruce  pine,  some  yellow  pine,  and  much  white 
pine.     Laurel  and  ivy  are  plenty  in   the   mountain 


THE   FOllESTS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA.  227 

section.  The  timber  I  have  named  is  of  a  good  and 
large  healthy  growth,  from  30  to  70  feet  to  the  first 
limbs,  from  2  to  6  feet  in  diameter. — J.  J.  C. 

Greene.  (300  sq.  miles.)  —  Hookerton,  Aug.  24, 
1882. — Our  forests  consist  mainly  of  pine.  On  the 
high  dry  lands  the  original  growth  is  pitch  or  long- 
strawed  pine  ;  most  of  it  has  been  boxed  or  bled,  and 
consequently  more  or  less  damaged  for  lumber,  but 
makes  excellent  fence.  The  slashes  and  low,  flat 
lands  have  what  we  call  slash  or  ehort-straw^  pine, 
which  makes  excellent  building  lumber  for  all  pur- 
poses not  too  much  exposed.  The  under  or  second 
growth  on  the  ridges  is  oak.  Our  swamps  have  oak, 
ash,  cypress,  sweet  gum,  black  gum,  some  hickory. 
Oak  for  timber  is  not  very  abundant.  Cypress,  pine, 
and  gum  are  in  abundance,  though  the  cypress  is 
not  of  the  best  quality.  Walnut  is  very  scarce.  Our 
wooded  acreage  is  about  equal  to  the  arable  land. 
Say  one-half  our  area  is  in  wood  ;  about  two-thirds 
of  this  is  covered  with  pine,  mostly  long-leaf.  All 
of  the  second  growth  of  pine  is  short-leaf ;  some  of 
that  makes  good  timber. — W.  P.  O. 

Granville.  (750  sq.  miles.)  —  Sassafras  Fork, 
Aug.  26, 1882. — In  this  county  the  prevailing  growth 
is  white  and  post  oak,  hickory,  and  pine.  In  the 
northern  part  of  the  county  about  three-fourths  is 
in  original  growth ;  the  balance  about  one-half. — 
R.  O.  G. 

Halifax.  (710  sq.  miles.) — Scotland  Neck,  Sept. 
18,  1882. — The  timber  in  our  forests  consists  of  long 


228  THE   FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

and  short-leaf  pine,  cypress,  oak,  maple,  ash  and 
hickory.  The  prevailing  growth  is  long  and  short- 
leaf  pine,  and  the  different  varieties  of  oak.  The 
wooded  acreage  is  about  two-thirds  of  the  county, 
say  about  270,000  acres,  covered  with  every  variety 
of  pine,  oak,  maple,  cypress,  ash  and  dogwood.  The 
number  of  acres  in  original  forest  growth  of  the  dif- 
ferent varieties  of  timber  is  believed  to  be  about  one- 
fifth  or  one-sixth  of  the  wooded  acreage. — R.  H.  S. 

Harnett.  (550  sq.  miles.) — Lillington,  Oct.  10, 
1882. — Long-leaf  pine  is  the  principal  growth  of  our 
forests.  We  have  some  oak  and  hickory  ;  very  little 
walnut.  On  the  west  side  of  the  county  there  are 
40,000  acres  (in  large  tracts)  of  large,  merchantable 
pine,  what  we  call  "  ship  timber."  At  present  it  is 
not  near  enough  the  railroad  to  be  very  profitable, 
but  the  proposed  road  from  Goldsboro  to  Salisbury 
will  make  it  so.  Besides  this,  we  have  100,000  acres 
of  pine  suitable  for  saw  mills. — B.  F.  S. 

Henderson.  (375  sq.  miles.) — Edneyville,  Sept. 
16,  1882. — I  send  you  a  statement  of  the  timber  in 
this  county.  Common  pine,  white  and  spruce  pine, 
oak,  walnut,  hickory,  ash,  chestnut,  poplar,  beech  and 
locust.  These  timbers  are  all  fine,  large  and  tall. 
There  has  been  in  the  last  six  months  a  large  amount 
of  locust  pins  shipped  from  this  county  and  they  are 
still  shipping  them. — R.  E. 

Haywood.  (750  sq.  miles.) — Waynesville,  Aug. 
28,  1882. — We  have  an  abundance  of  the  following 
timbers ;  Black  walnut,  white  oak,  red  and  black  oak, 


THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  229 

poplar,  ash,  chestnut,  hickory,  cherry,  linden,  buck- 
eye, birch,  black  gum,  dogwood,  maple,  and  a  great 
variety  of  other  species.  We  have  also  an  abun- 
dance of  laurel  and  ivy,  from  which  very  fine  rustic 
work  has  been  and  is  being  made.  As  to  pine  timber, 
we  have  quite  an  abundance  of  spruce  pine,  some 
yellow  pine,  and  an  enormous  quantity  of  balsam. 
The  prevailing  growths  of  the  county  are  white  oak, 
chestnut,  hickory  and  poplar. — E.  P.  H. 

Iredell.  (600  sq.  miles  ) — Statesville,  Aug.  26, 
1882. — The  kinds  of  timber  in  our  forests  are,  oak 
(white,  black,  red,  post,  Spanish,  chestnut  and  indeed 
all  varieties),  short-leaf  pine  (white,  soft  and  yellow 
heart),  hickory,  dogwood,  sour-wood,  poplar,  maple, 
beech,  walnut  (white  and  black),  etc.  The  forests  of 
this  county  show  a  very  great  variety  of  timber.  The 
prevailing  growth  is  oak,  pine  and  hickory.  About 
one-third  of  the  county  is  woodland.  Of  the  timber 
land  about  one-half  is  covered  by  oak  timber  of  the 
different  varieties. — J.  P.  C. 

Johnston.  (700  sq.  miles.)— Smithfield,  Sept  7, 
1882. — Of  timber  in  our  forests  the  principal  kinds 
are  pine,  oak,  hickory,  ash,  maple  and  gum.  The 
long-leaf  pine  is  the  prevailing  growth.  The  acreage 
covered  by  the  prevailing  species  is,  I  suppose,  about 
two-thirds.— J.  P.  W. 

Jackson.  (925  sq.  miles.)— Webster,  Sept.  12, 
1882. — At  least  four-fifths  of  this  county  is  yet  forest. 
The  prevailing  growth  is  oak.  The  varieties  are  red 
oak,  Spanish  oak,  black  oak,  white  oak  and  post  oak. 


230  THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

Locust  is  found  anywhere  in  the  county  and  in  great 
quantities  in  some  places.  Hickory  grows  promiscu- 
ously over  the  county,  and  it  is  very  fine.  Fine  pop- 
lar is  found  in  various  parts.  Buckeye,  beech,  birch, 
dogwood,  ash,  cucumber  and  others  are  found  in  the 
county.— W.H.  H.  H. 

Lincoln.  (275  sq.  miles.)  —  Macpelah,  Aug.  28, 
1882. — The  timbers  of  our  forests  are  short-leaf  and 
old-field  pine,  all  oaks  of  this  region,  dogwood,  hick- 
ory, poplar,  maple,  cherry,  walnut,  beech  and  birch, 
linden,  elm,  ash,  chestnut  (mostly  dead),  sour-wood, 
sassafras.  The  prevailing  growth  is  a  mixture  of 
pine  and  oak,  with  hickory  in  places ;  bottoms  have 
poplar  and  maple.  In  places,  dogwood  and  sour- 
wood  are  largely  intermixed  with  prevailing  growth. 
Two-thirds  of  the  county  is  in  woods;  much  of  it 
second  growth,  having  been  cut  for  charcoal.  Amount 
of  pine  lumber  for  building  sufficient  for  present,  but 
not  over-abundant.  Shingle  timber  is  already  scarce, 
and  oak  much  used  for  this  purpose. — W.  A.  G. 

Moore.  (825  sq.  miles.)— Sanford,  Sept.  8,  1882. 
—  The  kinds  of  timber  in  the  forests  of  this  county 
are  as  follows :  Long  and  short  leaf  pine ;  white, 
red,  and  post  ook ;  hickory,  dogwood,  with  smaller 
quantities  of  juniper  and  ash.  The  prevailing  growth 
is  long-leaf  pine.  The  wooded  acreage  is  about  50 
per  cent. ;  about  40  per  cent,  long-leaf  pine,  and 
about  10  per  cent,  of  all  others  mentioned  above. — 
J.  D.  McL 

Montgomery.    (575  sq.  miles.)  —  Troy,  Aug.  30, 


THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  231 

1882.  —  The  timbers  of  our  forests  are :  Pine,  long 
and  short  leaf,  oak,  hickory,  dogwood,  maple,  ash, 
poplar,  and  walnut.  Long-leaf  pine,  oak,  hickory, 
and  dogwood  prevail.  The  wooded  acreage  is  250,000, 
of  which  the  long-leaf  pine  occupies  about  80,000, 
the  rest  being  taken  up  by  oak,  hickory,  and  dog- 
wood, with  the   other  minor  kinds  mentioned. — C. 

c.  w. 

Madison.  (450  sq.  miles.)  —  Marshall,  Aug.  25, 
1882.  —  The  kinds  of  timber  are  poplar,  white  oak, 
white  pine,  hickory,  ash,  walnut,  and  some  red  oak 
and  yellow  pine.  The  prevailing  growths  are  hick- 
ory, poplar,  white  oak,  and  ash.  The  wooded  acre- 
age is  about  80  per  cent.,  and  the  acreage  as  covered 
by  the  prevailing  growth  about  75  per  cent.  In  the 
mountains  you  find  many  parts  covered  w^ith  buck- 
eye, linn;  beech,  dogwood,  and  cherry.  The  Avalnut 
and  cherry  are  being  cut  very  fast  and  sliipped  to 
eastern  markets. — W.  W.  R. 

Macon,  Clay,  Cherokee,  Graham,  Hayavood, 
Jackson,  Swain.  (3,910  sq.  miles.) — Franklin,  Aug. 
26, 1882. — I  give  statement  of  timbers  growing  in  IVIa- 
con  County.  Black  oak,  Spanish  oak,  white  oak,  post 
oak,  chestnut  oak,  water  or  shingle  oak ;  chestnut, 
hickory  (both  red  and  white),  poplar,  linn,  ash  (both 
black  and  white),  cucumber  (two  varieties),  maple, 
black  and  white  walnut,  cherry,  spruce  pine  or  hem- 
lock, common  black  pine,  white  pine,  black  jack, 
sycamore,  birch,  holly,  Peruvian  tree,  dogwood,  sour- 
wood,  persimmon,  sarvis,  black  locust,  yellow  locust, 


232  THE  rORESTS   OF   NORTH  CAROLINA. 

cedar  (scarce),  buckeye,  black  gum,  slippery  elm, 
beech,  iron-wood,  wild  plum,  sassafras,  chinquapin, 
crab-apple.  Of  these  timbers,  the  oaks  are  more 
generally  distributed  through  our  forests  than  any 
other;  then  chestnut,  the  hickory  and  poplar,  etc. 
I  have  not  the  means  at  command  to  determine  the 
percentage  of  uncleared  forest  as  compared  with  the 
lands  cleared  and  in  cultivation,  but  I  am  inclined 
to  believe  that  five-sixths  of  the  whole  area  of  the 
county  are  in  unbroken  forests.  The  oaks  prevail 
throughout  the  whole  territory  of  the  county.  Clay, 
Cherokee,  Graham,  Swain,  Jackson,  and  Haywood 
produce  similar  growths ;  and  to  the  list  herein  given 
you  may  add  balsam  for  the  counties  of  Swain,  Jack- 
son, and  Haywood. — C.  D.  S. 

Hayesville,  Clay  County,  May  8,  1882.  —  Five 
counties  in  the  extreme  western  corner  of  North 
Carolina  have  since  the  Atlanta  Exposition  become 
centres  of  attraction  to  geologists,  to  metallurgists, 
and  to  all  who  have  either  a  scientific  or  a  practical 
knowledge  of  mines  and  mining.  These  are  Swain, 
with  its  beautiful  marbles  of  many  colors ;  Graham, 
abounding  in  free  gold  precipitated  next  the  soft 
slate ;  Cherokee,  with  its  belts  of  iron,  limestone, 
marble,  and  steatite,  and  its  mines  of  gold,  lead, 
silver,  and  mineral  paint.  The  remaining  two  are 
Clay,  in  Avhich  gold,  corundum,  mica,  asbestos,  soap- 
stone,  and  many  gems  are  found ;  and  Macon,  with 
its  ores  of  copper  and  its  mines  of  corundum,  mica, 
asbestos,  graphite,  limestone,  and  a  large  variety  of 


THE  FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  233 

precious  stones.  These  are  the  most  abundant  min- 
erals of  this  district.  Associated  with  them  are 
many  others  belonging  to  the  curiosities  of  geology, 
but  without  commercial  value.  Iron  is  much  more 
abundant  than  any  other  of  the  useful  metals,  but 

gold  is  much  more  widely  disseminated In  a 

former  letter  some  reference  was  made  to  the  timbers 
of  this  country.  An  extended  tour  among  these 
mountains  since  then  has  more  than  confirmed  my 
opinion  of  the  extent  and  vakie  of  these  forests.  I 
have  seen  colossal  pines,  chestnuts,  and  oaks ;  hick- 
ory, maple,  and  beech  trees  four  feet  in  diameter,  and 
poplars  thirty-six  feet  in  circumference.  There  are 
spots  in  these  mountains  where  the  wild  cherry 
attains  a  diameter  of  six  feet  and  the  sassafras  four. 
The  yellow  locust  also  grows  to  be  a  large  tree.  A 
log  of  it  lying  across  a  branch  where  it  has  been  used 
as  a  foot  log  the  last  thirty  years  seemed  to  be  as 
sound  at  the  heart  as  when  it  was  felled.  Persim- 
mons and  dogwoods  large  enough  for  shuttle  blocks 
are  to  be  seen  near  all  the  streams.  The  local  con- 
sumption of  timber  is  inappreciable  except  where 
land  is  cleared  for  cultivation ;  then  the  wasteful 
practice  of  girdling  and  subsequent  burning  is  em- 
ployed. When  track-laying  begins,  cross  ties  will  be 
in  demand.  A  market  will  be  opened  for  timber 
suitable  for  trestles  and  bridges,  and  the  work  of 
forest  destruction  will  be  fairly  inaugurated.  When 
the  road  is  completed,  iron  furnaces  will  be  built  and 
charcoal  pits  started.     The  bark  of  the  chestnut  and 


234  THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

oak  will  be  sent  to  the  Chattanooga  tannery,  the 
hickory  will  be  turned  into  spokes  and  tool  handles, 
and  the  poplar  sawed  into  planks.  At  jDresent  prices, 
and  Avith  the  certainty  of  an  early  demand,  no  more 
profitable  investment  offers  for  idle  capital  than  the 
forest  land  contiguous  to  these  railroads  in  Swain 
and  Cherokee  counties.  I  have  not  seen  a  tract  on 
the  line  indicated  that  will  not  be  worth  at  least 
double  its  cost  within  the  next  two  years,  and  many 
of  them  will  bring  a  much  higher  percentage,  because 
of  their  location  and  their  adaptation  to  tillage.— 
Mn.F AV.DBB,UcUtorMio  Haven  CCo7m.-)  Palladium, 

Mitchell.  (250  sq.  miles.)— Bakersville,  Sept. 
8,  1882.— We  have  in  this  county  the  following  kinds 
of  timber  of  importance  :  White  oak,  walnut,  poplar, 
asli,  hickory,  cherry  and  white  pine.  The  latter  ex- 
clusively in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county.  The 
greater  part  of  the  county  is  timber  land.  The  acre- 
age of  the  different  kinds  would  be  in  about  the  fol- 
lowing order;  first,  white  oak;  second,  white  pine; 
third,  poplar  ;  fourth,  ash  ;  fifth,  liickory :  sixth,  wal- 
nut; seventh,  cherry. — J.  W.  B. 

Nash.  (525  sq.  miles.)— Nash  County,  Sept.  11, 
1882.— Northern  and  western  portions  of  Nash :  black, 
post,  Spanish  and  white  oaks,  short-leaf  pine.  East- 
ern and  Southern  parts:  long-leaf  pine.  Low  lands  : 
cypress,  gum,  poplar  and  maple — undergrowth,  dog- 
wood, principally.  I  have  no  means  to  ascertain  the 
wooded  acreage.  It  is  very  different  in  different  por^ 
tions.     Generally  about  one-fourth  to  one-half  under 


THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  235 

fence,  except  in  large  tracts,  then  a  much  less  per 
cent,  under  fence.  Small  tracts  more  under  fence. 
The  remainder  is  in  old  worn-out  fields  with  the 
original  growth  about  half  and  half.  In  some  sec- 
tions large  bodies  in  original  growth ;  some  of  oaks 
and  some  of  pine ;  but  every  year  the  acreage  under 
fence  is  rapidly  increasing  and  land  rising  in  value. — 
J.  W.  B. 

New  .Hanover,  Pender,  Duplin,  Wayne,  Wil- 
son, Edgecombe,  Nash,  Halifax.  (Area,  4,360  sq. 
miles.)  Route  of  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad, — 
Wilmington,  Sept.  8,  1882.— The  prevailing  growth 
of  timber  from  Wilmington  to  the  Neuse  river  is 
long-leaf  pine  on  the  high  lands,  slash  pine,  with  a 
sprinkling  of  scrub  gum  and  maple,  on  the  flats  or 
low  lands,  with  a  little  white  oak.  On  the  higher 
ridges  there  is  a  little  red  oak.  The  long-leaf  pine  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  railroad  has  been  used  for  tur- 
pentine and  tar,  and  most  of  the  oak  timber  has  been 
gotten  for  staves.  In  the  swamps  there  is  a  great  deal 
of  black  gum,  sweet  gum,  maple,  ash  and  hickory, 
some  little  oak,  the  greater  part  being  black  gum,  with 
occasional  low  places  of  cypress.     Very  little  walnut. 

The  same  may  be  said  from  Neuse  river  to  Fishing 
Creek,  with  an  increased  growth  of  red  oak  and  hick- 
ory. Most  of  the  long-leaf  pine  has,  like  the  lower 
part,  been  exhausted.  From  Enfield  to  Weldon  is 
short-leaf  pine,  in  the  swamps  a  good  deal  of  beech, 
papaw,  gum,  and  a  considerable  amount  of  small  oak 
and  hickory. 


236  THE   FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

I  understand  that  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  from 
Wihiiington  to  Goldsboro,  after  a  few  miles,  there  are 
large  quantities  of  valuable  pine  which  has  been  bled 
for  turpentine,  and  after  you  pass  Goldsboro  a  great 
deal  of  very  valuable  timber  a  few  miles  from  the 
road  (long-leaf  pine). 

As  soon  as  you  strike  the  red  lands  in  Wilson, 
Nash  and  Halifax,  you  find  considerable  quantities  of 
oak.  Running  from  Fishing  Creek  in  the  direction 
of  Raleigh  there  is  a  very  large  belt  of  long-leaf  pine 
of  first-class  quality,  varying  from  3  to  6  or  8  miles 
wide,  running  in  the  direction  of  Raleigh.  When  it 
reaches  the  Little  River  country  it  seems  to  run  in  a 
direction  further  south,  passing  below  Clayton,  thence 
through  the  State,  passing  the  lower  edge  of  Wake 
and  through  Johnston  county,  through  the  most  of 
Harnett,  Cumberland,  eastern  part  of  Richmond  and 
Robeson,  being  a  great  deal  of  valuable  saw-mill  tim- 
ber, some  of  which  has  been  bled,  some  not.  How 
far  the  line  goes  west  of  this  I  do  not  know,  but  my 
recent  explorations  of  the  line  from  Wilson  to  Shoe 
Heel  show  a  great  deal  of  valuable  pine  timber  and 
some  valuable  white  oak. 

The  belt  of  timber  running  from  Fishing  Creek  up 
towards  Peach  Tree,  on  towards  Watson's  Mill  on 
the  Neuse,  is  one  of  the  finest  sections  of  timber  I 
know. 

In  the  Scotland  Neck  country,  in  the  dividing  ridge 
between  Beach  Swamp  and  the  waters  of  the  Roa- 
noke, thence  continued  on  to  a  point  between  Tarboro 


THE   FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  237 

and  Williamston,  there  is  another  valuable  belt  of 
long-leaf  pine  timber. 

On  the  Roanoke  there  are  localities  in  which  young 
walnut  seems  to  spring  up  along  the  hedge  rows  as 
old-field  pine  does  in  other  localities.  I  judge  from 
the  manner  in  which  it  springs  up  that  it  could  be 
grown  with  ease  in  this  district.  Also  in  many  other 
sections  walnut  could  be  grown. 

It  is  not  in  my  power  to  give  you  the  wood  acreage 
and  the  acreage  covered  by  prevailing  species.  You 
will  find  the  timber  indicated  more  by  geological  for- 
mation. As  soon  as  you  get  into  red  or  rocky  lands  the 
long-leaf  pine  disappears,  and  oak  and  hickory  take  its 
place.  As  you  pass  the  Granite  Falls  there  are  gum 
swamps  and  cypress  swamps.  A  description  of  one  is 
a  description  of  all.  A  description  of  one  section  of 
long-leaf  pine  country  is  nearly  a  description  of  all. 

The  long-leaf  pine  extends  above  the  line  of  Gran- 
ite Falls  on  Fishing  Creek,  Neuse  River,  Smiley's 
Falls,  and  the  Falls  in  the  Yadkin,  varying  at  different 
points.  Not  a  great  deal  of  long-leaf  pine  in  the 
secondary  formation — it  is  principally  confined  to  the 
tertiary.  The  various  river  bottoms  of  the  Neuse, 
the  Cape  Fear,  the  Tar  and  the  Roanoke,  never  had 
long-leaf  pine  on  them.  This  soil  seems  to  have  been 
made  from  settlings  from  the  up  country.  What 
there  is  in  the  tertiary  formation  tliat  produces  long- 
leaf  pine,  and  what  there  is  in  the  secondary  forma- 
tion that  precludes  its  growth  except  on  the  ridges,  I 
cannot  tell. — R.  R.  B. 


238  THE  FORESTS   OF  NORTH   CAROLINA. 

Northampton.  (525  sq.  miles.)  —  Rich  Square, 
Sept.  7,  1882.  —  We  have  here  almost  every  tree 
known,  but  principal  growth  is  pine  and  oak  on  the 
high  lands,  with  gum  and  cypress  in  the  swamps. 
The  hills  or  high  lands  are  also  interspersed  with 
hickory,  walnut,  dogwood,  and  maple,  and  many 
other  varieties  in  less  quantity.  I  suppose  one  half 
the  county  is  in  forests,  and  one  half  that  is  thickly 
set  in  long-leaf  pine.  In  the  lower  end  of  the  county 
we  have  large  quantities  of  the  various  kinds  of  oak 
and  hickory,  some  walnut,  sap  pine  (known  as  short- 
leaf),  maple  in  abundance,  etc.  Then  there  are  three 
large  swamps  in  or  partly  in  the  county,  which 
abound  in  magnificent  C3^press  trees  and  the  different 
kinds  of  gum. —  J.  C.  J. 

Orange.  (675  sq.  miles.)  —  Hillsboro,  Sept.  8, 
1882.  —  Our  forest  timbers  are  oak,  hickory,  gum, 
cedar,  pine,  elm,  maple,  walnut,  sycamore,  beech, 
birch.  The  prevailing  growth  is  oak.  One  third  of 
Orange  is  in  forest,  mostly  oak. — J.  W. 

Onslow.  (725  sq.  miles.)  —  Richlands,  Aug.  22, 
1882. — The  long-leaf  pines  are  the  principal  growth. 
There  is  a  large  quantity  of  waste  or  barren  poor 
piney  woodland,  interspersed  with  strips  of  pocoson 
which  have  cypress  and  juniper.  On  the  rivers  and 
creeks  are  fine  poplar,  dogwood,  holly,  beech,  maple, 
and  sweet  gum.  The  old  fields  are  covered  with 
spruce  or  short-straw  pines.  Elm,  white  oak,  red 
oak,  and  hickory  abound  in  the  swamps  and  low 
ground,  and  the  plantations  have  on  their  edges  per- 


THE  FORESTS   OP   NORTH   CAROLINA.  239 

simmon  trees,  plum  and  mulberry.  There  are  some 
walnut  trees,  on  the  farms  principally,  and  a  few  in 
the  woods.  There  is  at  least  sixty  per  cent,  of  the 
acreage  of  forest  in  the  pine  woods, — in  many  places 
splendid  timber  of  the  yellow  long-leaf  pine  for  saw- 
mills. The  cedar  tree  also  is  interspersed  all  over 
the  county,  and  may  be  found  in  the  swamps  and  on 
plantations.  Ash  of  the  finest  quality  and  in  great 
abundance  prevails  in  the  low  grounds  and  on  the 
creeks  and  rivers,  with  a  large  quantity  of  sugar 
maple.  New  River,  in  Onslow,  has  timber  in  abun- 
dance on  it,  and  steam  saw-mills  would  do  a  good 
business ;  could  saw  pine,  cedar,  gum,  juniper,  oak, 
ash,  hickory,  holl}^  beech,  dogwood.  There  is  an 
abundance  of  willow  in  the  low  grounds. — J.  H.  F. 

Pamlico.  (875  sq.  miles.)  —  Stonewall,  Sept.  1, 
1882. — We  have  all  kinds  of  trees  in  our  forest  that 
are  known  in  the  State  except  chestnut.  The  pre- 
vailing growth  is  on  our  outlands,  long  and  short 
straw  pine,  with  oak  (red  and  white),  hickory,  holly, 
etc. ;  and  in  the  swamp,  yellow  poplar,  sweet  and 
black  gum,  ash,  juniper,  and  the  over-cup  and  chest- 
nut oak,  etc.  The  wooded  acreage  of  our  county  is 
at  least  nine-tenths  of  the  whole. — J.  S.  L. 

Pasquotank.  (240  sq.  miles.)  —  Elizabeth  City, 
Aug.  30,  1882.  —  There  are  two  distinct  classes  of 
timber  in  north-eastern  North  Carolina — swamp  tim- 
ber and  upland  timber.  The  most  valuable  swamp 
timber  is  juniper  and  cypress,  vast  quantities  of 
which  have  been  and  are  still  being  cut  and  carried 


240  THE  FORESTS   OF   NORTH  CAROLINA. 

to  market.  Most  of  it  is  manufactured  out  of  the 
State.  The  prevailing  growth  on  the  highlands  is 
pine.  Immense  quantities  of  this  have  also  been  cut 
and  moved  out  of  the  State  to  be  manufactured,  but 
no  inconsiderable  quantity  is  manufactured  in  the 
State.  In  this  county  there  are  about  fifteen  mills 
for  the  manufacture  of  pine  lumber.  There  are  large 
quantities  of  timber  still  standing  on  the  low  and 
high  lands,  great  as  has  been  the  drain  during  the 
past  fifteen  years.  We  have  an  abundance  of  wood 
of  different  kinds — oak,  maple,  sweet  gum,  ash,  hick- 
ory, holly,  poplar,  etc.,  on  the  uplands,  and  bay, 
black  gum,  laurel,  etc.,  in  the  swamps.  Nearly  or 
quite  one-half  of  the  area  east  of  Roanoke  River  in 
this  State  is  still  wild ;  probably  one-fourth  of  that 
whole  territory  is  swampy  and  not  susceptible  of 
cultivation. — F.  V. 

Pender.  (917  sq.  miles.)  —  Burgaw,  Aug.  21, 
1882. — We  have  pine,  oak,  hickory,  maple,  sweet  and 
black  gum  in  abundance,  and  in  several  sections 
birch,  willow,  and  walnut  in  quantities.  The  pre- 
vailing growth  is  long-leaf  pine,  oak,  hickory,  and 
maple.  The  wooded  acreage  is  about  two-thirds  of 
the  entire  quantity.  Number  of  acres  in  the  county, 
353,794,  two-thirds  of  which  is  wooded  land.  The 
long-leaf  pine  covers  about  one-third  of  entire  num- 
ber of  acres,  or  half  of  the  wooded  land,  amounting 
to  117,931  acres.  The  other  half  is  about  equally 
divided  in  the  other  growths,  such  as  hickory,  gum, 
etc.— W.  T.  E. 


THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  241 

Perquimans.  (225  sq.  miles.)  —  Hertford,  Sept. 
29,  1882.  —  We  have  in  this  county  pine,  cypress, 
juniper,  gums,  oak,  ash,  beech,  Avith  a  sprinkling  of 
hickory,  walnut,  maple,  dogwood,  holly,  and  poplar. 
Long-leaf  pine  is  the  prevailing  growth  of  the  higli 
lands,  and  cypress  and  juniper  of  the  swamp  lands. 
Our  pine  lands  have  been  in  a  large  measure  denuded 
of  late  years ;  400,000,000  feet  of  pine  timber  have 
been  carried  from  this  county  to  Norfolk  and  Balti- 
more in  the  log  in  the  last  ten  years.  There  still 
remain  about  10,000  acres  uncut  of  pine,  and  about 
the  same  quantity  of  cypress  and  juniper. — T.  G.  S. 

Person.  (400  sq.  miles.)  —  Winstead,  Sept.  20, 
1882. — We  have  in  our  original  forest  in  this  county 
all  of  the  oaks,  hickory,  short-leaf  pine,  poplar,  some 
walnut,  beech,  birch,  sweet  and  black  gum,  sour- 
wood,  dogwood,  etc.  Our  second  growth  consists 
mainly  of  pine,  the  gums,  persimmon,  elm,  etc.  This 
county  is  twenty  miles  square,  and  I  suppose  the 
original  wooded  acreage  to  be  one-eighth  of  the 
whole ;  the  second  growth,  one-lialf  of  the  whole. 
Original  growth  divided  about  as  follows:  pine,  one- 
fourth  ;  oak,  one-third ;  hickory,  one-eighth ;  the  re- 
mainder being  poplar,  beech,  birch,  walnut,  etc. ;  the 
second  growth  mainly  pine,  which  makes  fine  build- 
ing material,  etc. — A.  J.  H. 

Pitt.  (825  sq.  miles.)— Pitt  County,  Oct.  16, 1882. 
—  The  kinds  of  timber  are  pine,  cypress,  oak,  gum, 
poplar  ;  the  prevailing  growth,  pine  and  cypress.  The 
wooded  acreage  I  can  only  estimate  from  the  lands 


242  THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

under  my  control  —  8,000  acres,  divided  into  three 
distinct  farms.  One-fourtli  is  cleared ;  three-fourths 
in  woods.  Of  the  wood,  one-half,  perhaps  three- 
fourths,  is  pine. — J.  H.  S. 

Polk.  (300  sq.  miles.)  —  Lynn,  Aug.  28,  1882.— 
Polk  County  is  rich  in  timber.  Her  lands  on  the 
south  side  of  the  mountains  are  very  fine.  On  all 
low  and  flat  lands,  native  short-leaf  pine  predomi- 
nates; some  oak  and  hickory.  On  the  mountain 
sides  we  have  fine  walnut,  ash,  chestnut,  poplar, 
maple,  locust,  buckeye.  One-half  of  the  county  is 
mountain  or  fine  kinds  of  wood.  One  fourth  of  the 
land  in  Polk  is  cut  off  and  cleared. — D.  B.  M. 

Randolph.  (728  sq.  miles.)  —  Ashboro,  Sept.  12, 
1882.  —  Kinds  of  timber  are  oak,  pine,  hickory,  dog- 
wood, cedar,  maple,  gum,  walnut,  ash.  The  prevail- 
ing growth  is  oak  and  short-leaf  pine.  Wooded  acre- 
age, two-thirds  of  the  county.  About  five-sixths  of 
the  wooded  acreage  is  covered  by  oak  and  pine  in 
very  nearly  equal  proportions.  The  northern  part  of 
the  county  is  chiefly  oak,  and  in  the  southern  part 
pine  prevails. — J.  A.  B. 

Richmond.  (875  sq.  miles.)  —  Rockingham,  Aug. 
25,  1882.  —  I  estimate  the  area,  in  acres,  as  500,000. 
Of  this,  probably  160,000  are  devoted  to  agriculture. 
Nine-tenths  of  the  original  growth  was  long-leafed 
pine.  Indeed  all  the  county,  except  a  narrow  strip 
on  the  Pee  Dee — in  all  not  over  sixty  square  miles — 
was  of  that  species.  In  that  small  territory,  and  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  streams  which  flow  into 


THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA.  243 

that  river,  there  is  still  left  some  oak  and  hickory, 
but  not  enough  for  commercial  purposes.  It  may  be 
said,  therefore,  that  our  only  timber  in  excess  of 
local  demand  is  the  long-leafed  pine.  Most  of  this — 
say  nine-tenths — has  been  boxed  for  turpentine,  and 
thus  to  some  extent  damaged  in  its  timber  and  lum- 
ber qualities.  We  have  yet,  especially  off  the  line 
of  the  railroads,  enough  to  make  hundreds  of  millions 
of  feet.  The  best  and  most  extensive  body  of  long- 
leafed  pine,  within  my  knowledge,  is  in  Montgomery 
County,  too  far  yet  from  transportation  to  be  of  much 
commercial  value. — W.  L.  S. 

Rowan.  (495  sq.  miles.)  —  Salisbury,  Aug.  21, 
1882. — We  have  in  our  forests  oak  of  all  kinds,  hick- 
ory, short-leaf  pine,  ash,  black  walnut,  poplar,  soft 
maple,  elm.  The  prevailing  growths  are  post,  red, 
and  Spanish  oak ;  plenty  of  short-leaf  pine  for  home 
use ;  other  kinds  of  timber  mixed  very  generally ; 
black  walnut  and  hickory  in  abundance.  One-third 
to  one-fourth  of  the  county  is  in  timber,  of  which  the 
different  kinds  of  oak  will  make  from  one-half  to  two- 
thirds  ;  pine,  one-half  of  the  balance. — L.  B. 

Rockingham.  (550  sq.  miles.) — Leaksville,  Sept. 
9,  1882. — Our  county  abounds  in  oak,  pine(short-leaf), 
hickory,  walnut  and  dogwood.  One-third  of  the 
county  is  in  cultivation  ;  one-third  in  original  forest ; 
one-third  waste  land,  being  rapidly  improved  by  old- 
field  pine.— J.  P.  D. 

Robeson.  (1150  sq.  miles.) — Shoe  Heel,  Sept.  25, 
1882. — The  prevailing  growth  of  our  forests  is  long- 


244  THE  FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

leaf  pine,  botli  yellow  and  pitch  pine.  In  our  swamps 
(of  which  w^e  have  a  considerable  quantity)  black 
gum  and  cypress  prevail,  with  some  oak  and  ash. 
The  large  timber  accessible  to  the  navigable  streams 
and  railroads  has  been  cut  off,  but  there  is  still  a 
very  large  amount  of  timber  suitable  for  lumber  all 
over  the  county.  There  are  many  large  areas  of  large 
pine  timber  remote  from  the  streams  and  railroads 
yet  untouched,  that  will,  when  we  have  railroad  fa- 
cilities, afford  an  immense  amount  of  timber  and 
lumber.— M.  M. 

Rutherford.  (475  square  miles.) — Island  Ford, 
Sept.  11,  1882. — We  have  in  this  county  white  oak, 
red  oak,  black  oak,  post  oak,  live  oak,  chestnut  oak, 
in  fact  nearly  all  the  oaks ;  two  kinds  of  hickory — 
white  and  the  common  hickory,  black  walnut,  short- 
leaf  or  yellow  pine  and  (as  fine  as  you  ever  saw  and  a 
plenty  of  it)  hemlock  near  the  mountains,  poplar,  ash, 
birch,  beech,  locust.  About  three-fourths  of  the 
acreage  of  the  county  is  in  timber  yet. — J.  L.  M. 

Sampson.  (850  sq.  miles.) — Clinton,  Oct.  20, 
1882. — The  kinds  of  timber  are  long  and  short-leaf 
pine;  water,  red,  Spanish,  white,  black-jack  oaks; 
hickory,  poplar,  gum — sweet  and  black,  dogwood, 
persimmon,  cedar,  elm,  juniper,  cypress,  walnut.  The 
prevailing  growth  is  long-leaf  pine.  The  wooded 
acreage  about  65  per  cent.,  and  about  the  same  per 
cent,  of  that  covered  by  long-leaf  pine. — E.  T.  B. 

Surry.  (500  sq.  miles.)  Elkin,  Sept.  11,  1882. 
The  prevailing  growth  is  white,  red,  black,  Spanish 


THE  FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  245 

and  chestnut  oaks,  yellow  or  short-leaf  pine,  ash,  wal- 
nut, hickory,  beech,  birch,  mahogany,  cliestnut,  ma- 
ple, poplar,  etc.  Wooded  acreage  is  about  three- 
fourths  of  the  county,  and  one-half  of  whole  county 
is  in  oaks,  pine,  hickory,  etc. — R.  R.  G. 

Transylvania.  (440  square  miles.) — Zachary's, 
Sept.  14,  1882. — This  county  from  north  to  south  is 
34  miles ;  from  east  to  west,  29  miles.  The  valley  of 
the  French  Broad  is  from  one  to  five  miles  wide,  and 
about  20  miles  long  within  this  county.  With  the 
exception  of  said  valley  (and  it  has  a  great  deal  of 
young  oak  timber),  the  county  is  almost  one  unbroken 
forest.  There  is  an  abundance  of  the  various  kinds 
of  oak,  chestnut,  hickory,  poplar,  white  and  spruce 
pine,  and  in  some  portions  good  yellow  pine,  some 
walnut,  cherry,  beech,  mountain  birch,  locust  (in 
abundance),  linn,  buckeye,  etc.,  with  all  the  various 
kinds  of  small  timber  peculiar  to  a  ridge  country. — 
J.  Z. 

Tyrrell.  (325  sq.  miles.)— Tyrrell  County,  Oct. 
3,  1882. — Our  forests  are  of  long-leaf  pine,  oak,  juni- 
per, gum,  ash  and  cypress.  The  wooded  acreage  is 
at  least  75  per  cent.,  50  per  cent,  of  juniper  and  c}^- 
press ;  25  per  cent  of  pine  and  oak. — W.  11.  H.  C. 

Wake.  (1,050  sq.  miles.)— Ralcigli,  Oct.  27, 1882. 
— A  greater  variety  of  timber  trees  are  to  be  found 
in  Wake  County  than  in  any  other  county  in  the 
State.  In  point  of  value  the  long-leaf  pine  comes  first, 
covering  at  least  one-third  of  the  area  of  the  county, 
and  extending  from  the  Johnslon  to  the  Chatham  line, 


246  THE   FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

and  from  Harnett  to  within  three  miles  of  the  City  of 
Raleigh.  Short-leaf  pine  is  the  prevailing  growth  in 
nearly  every  other  part  of  the  county.  Cedar  pine 
grows  on  Buffalo  Creek,  and  cypress  and  juniper 
abound  on  Little  River,  Buffalo  and  Moccasin.  Syc- 
amore, walnut,  oak  and  hickory  are  the  spontaneous 
growth  of  all  parts  of  the  county.  Every  known 
variety  of  oak  is  to  be  found  in  its  borders.  Large 
white  oaks  suitable  for  ship  building  are  abundant 
on  all  the  tributaries  of  the  Cape  Fear  and  the 
Haw.  Every  known  variety  of  oak  can  be  found  in 
its  borders.  Hickory,  black  and  red  oak  grow 
spontaneously. 

I  was  once  riding  in  a  park  of  three  hundred  acres 
belonging  to  an  English  member  of  Parliament ;  I 
observed  that  all  the  oaks  were  post  oaks,  and  so  re- 
marked to  him.  He  replied,  "Oh!  I  can  show  you 
three  varieties."  I  told  him  in  my  town  in  America 
I  could  point  him  out  twenty  varieties  of  red  oak 
alone.  This  he  evidently  thought  a  mistake,  and  on 
my  return  I  sent  him  twelve  varieties  of  red  oak 
acorns  found  in  the  yard  of  Dr  Hogg  and  in  Capitol 
Square.  I  sent  in  the  same  package,  also,  acorns  of 
the  chestnut  and  white  oaks,  and  in  acknowledging 
the  receipt  of  the  same  he  said :  "  The  great  variety 
of  Qaercus  Rubra  is  marvellous,  some  of  them  must 
be  hybrids,  but  the  acorns  of  the  chestnut  and  white 
oaks  have  attracted  the  most  attention  on  account  of 
size.  I  have  divided  them  with  the  Earl  of  EUesmere, 
who  has  caused  them  to  be  carefully  planted." 


THE  FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  247 

Many  trees,  such  as  olives,  English  walnuts  and 
pecans,  grow  well  in  North  Carolina.  The  pecan 
grows  luxuriantly,  and  every  farmer  in  the  State 
ought  to  plant  the  nuts  on  his  farm.  They  grow  very 
vigorously  in  all  parts  of  the  State,  and  particularly 
so  in  the  alluvial  soil  of  the  east,  and  every  nut 
planted  in  November  or  December  w^ll  germinate. 
The  trees  are  much  valued  on  the  Mississippi  for  fat- 
tening hogs.  I  have  a  tree  in  my  yard  that  at  eigh- 
teen years  of  age  bore  five  bushels  of  nuts.  The 
nuts  sell  readily  for  twenty  cents  a  pound,  and  as  a 
crop  for  profit  I  think  them  well  worthy  of  consid- 
eration.— R.  B.  H. 

Warren.  (450  sq.  miles.) — Ridgeway,  Sept.  9, 
1882. — The  prevailing  grow^ths  of  our  forests  are 
pine  (short-leafed),  and  oak  (white,  red,  Spanish  and 
post)  ;  other  growths  are  dogwood,  hickory,  gum, 
walnut,  etc.  The  acreage  in  forest  is  55  per  cent.,  as 
follows ;  pine  30  per  cent.,  oak  25  per  cent. — P.  11.  A. 

Wayne.  (550  sq.  miles.)— Fremont,  Sept.  6, 1882. 
— We  have  in  this  county,  oaks,  hickorj^  gum,  ash, 
mulberry,  dogwood,  walnut,  etc.,  in  small  quantities  ; 
long-leaf  and  short-leaf  pine  the  prevailing  growth. 
About  40  per  cent,  of  the  county  is  woodland,  25 
per  cent,  in  pine  timber. — W.  E.  F. 

Wilson.  (350  sq.  miles.) — Stantonsburg,  Sept.  4, 
1882.  —  Our  forests  are  principally  pine,  witli  oak, 
hickory,  poplar,  and  some  walnut.  The  prevailing 
growth  is  the  long-leaf  pine,  except  on  Toisnot 
Swamp  and  Big  Contentnea  Creek,  where  are  oak. 


248  THE   FORESTS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

hickory,  poplar,  and  some  short-leaf  pine.  There  is 
also  sweet  gum,  black  gum,  and  dogwood,  ash,  etc. 
I  think  about  sixty  per  cent,  of  the  county  is  in 
forest,  forty  per  cent,  cleared.  Of  the  sixty  per  cent, 
in  forest,  the  long-leaf  pine  covers  seventy,  and  the 
other  kinds  mentioned  the  remainder.  The  timber 
sawed  into  lumber  is  ninety  per  cent.  pine.  The 
same  remarks  would  apply  to  the  counties  of  Greene, 
Wayne,  a  part  of  Nash,  Johnston,  and  Edgecombe, 
except  that  the  latter  is  about  equally  divided  in 
forestry  and  cleared. — G.  W.  S. 

Watauga.  (475  sq.  miles.)  — Shull's  Mills,  Aug. 
31,  1882. — The  forests  of  Watauga  County  are  very 
heavily  wooded,  and  originally  covered  the  whole 
surface  except  the  rock  cliffs  on  the  mountains  and 
the  beds  of  the  rivers.  They  now  include  about  four- 
fifths  of  the  acreage  of  the  county.  The  prevailing 
growths  are  oak,  chestnut,  poplar,  hickory,  maple, 
sugar  tree  (or  sugar  maple),  hemlock  (or  spruce 
pine),  white  pine,  cherry,  ash,  linden,  cucumber, 
buckeye,  gum,  birch  (or  mountain  mahogany),  beech, 
walnut,  sour-wood,  dogwood,  etc.  The  first  eight 
are  the  most  abundant.  All  the  forest  growths  of 
the  county  are  so  mixed  together  that  I  cannot  give 
a  reliable  estimate  of  the  acreage  of  each.  Tlie  pre- 
vailing growth  depends  very  much  on  the  exposure 
and  elevation  of  the  surface,  and  the  surface  is  so 
varied  that  almost  every  square  mile  of  the  county 
has  a  considerable  variety  of  elevation  and  exposure, 
and   consequently  of  prevailing    growths  of  timber 


THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  249 

on  the  different  portions  of  it.  Since  the  railroad 
reached  Cranberry  the  lumbermen  have  invaded  the 
county,  and  secured  most  of  the  cherry  trees  at  al- 
most nominal  prices.  But  there  will  be  enough  val- 
uable timber  of  many  kinds  in  the  county  to  furnish 
heavy  railroad  freights  for  many  years. — W.  W.  L. 

Wayne,  Johnston,  Wake,  Durham,  Orange, 
Alamance,  Guilford,  Davidson,  Ro^yAN,  Ca- 
barrus, Mecklenburg.  (Area,  6,351  sq.  miles.) 
Route  of  the  North  Carolina  Railroad. — N.  C.  R.  R., 
Sept.  25,  1882. — Beginning  at  Goldsboro,  the  upper 
edge  of  Wayne,  through  Johnston  to  the  lower  edge 
of  Wake  County,  you  will  find  the  long-leaf  pine  to 
be  the  prevailing  species  of  timber  on  the  uplands, 
mixed  with  some  oak  and  hickory,  mostly  red  oak 
and  Spanish  oak.  On  the  rivers  and  creeks  you  will 
find  it  more  extensively  grown  with  white  oak,  sweet 
gum,  black  gum,  poplar,  and  cypress  of  large  size. 
Through  this  section  about  one-half  the  acreage  is 
yet  in  forest,  mostly  of  the  original  growths.  Upon 
some  of  the  uplands  once  in  cultivation  and  since 
turned  out,  has  grown  up  the  old-field  pine,  which 
soon  covers  the  lands  with  a  thick  growth  of  timber. 

From  the  lower  edge  of  Wake  County,  through 
Durham  County,  to  the  lower  edge  of  Orange  County, 
you  will  find  the  white  oak  and  post  oak,  mostly  on 
uplands,  to  be  the  prevailing  growtli,  mixed  witli 
what  is  termed  the  rosemary  pine,  with  a  sprinkling 
of  the  long-leaf  pine,  in  some  places  as  far  up  as  sixt}-- 
five  miles  from  Goldsboro.     Tlie  rosemary  pine  ex- 


250  THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA. 

tends  as  far  up  as  eighty  miles  from  Goldsboro.  On 
the  uplands  and  on  the  rivers  and  creeks  through 
this  section  you  find  it  more  extensively  grown  with 
poplar,  sweet  gum,  maple,  cypress,  hickory,  and  some 
black  walnut,  ash,  etc.  The  acreage  in  this  section 
is  about  half  in  forest,  mostly  of  the  original  growths. 
Dogwood  and  sour-wood  grow  very  extensively  in 
some  parts  of  this  section  on  the  uplands,  creek  and  ^ 
river  bottoms. 

From  the  lower  edge  of  Orange  County  to  the 
upper  edge  of  Alamance  County  to  Company  Shops, 
you  will  find  the  post  oak  and  white  oak  still  in  most 
places  to  be  the  prevailing  species  both  on  up  and 
lower  lands,  mixed  with  red  oak,  black  oak,  hickory, 
ash,  maple,  sweet  gum,  walnut,  dogwood,  and  sour- 
wood.  Cedar  grows  somewhat  in  this  section,  though 
not  generally  of  very  large  size.  The  acreage  is  not 
quite  half  in  the  original  forest,  the  lands  having 
been  more  extensively  cleared,  and  the  old-field  pine 
not  growing  up  so  readily  on  these  red  lands  as  in 
more  sandy  sections. — W.  P.  R. 

Greensboro,  October  14,  1882.  —  In  Alamance 
County,  west  of  Shops,  the  kinds  of  timber  are  oak, 
short-leaf  pine,  hickory,  sweet  and  black  gum,  dog- 
wood, maple,  and  poplar.  The  prevailing  growth  is 
of  oak  and  hickory.  The  wooded  acreage  is  about 
one-half  of  the  original  entire  acreage.  The  acreage 
covered  by  prevailing  growth  is  about  three-eighths 
of  original  entire  acreage. 

In  Guilford  County  the  kinds  of  timber  are  oak. 


I 


THE  FORESTS   OF   NOllTH   CAROLINA.  251 

black  jack,  liickoiy,  poplar,  sweet  and  black  gum, 
maple,  and  second  growth  pine.  The  prevailing 
growth,  oak,  black  jack,  hickory.  The  wooded  acre- 
age is  about  three-eighths  of  the  original  acreage  of 
forest.  The  acreage  covered  by  prevailing  growth 
is  about  one-fourth  of  the  original  acreage  of  forest. 

In  Davidson  County  the  kinds  of  timber  are  oak, 
black  jack,  short-leaf  pine,  hickory,  gum  (sweet  and 
black),  maple,  elm,  poplar,  and  dogwood.  The  pre- 
vailing growth,  oak,  short-leaf  pine,  and  black  jack. 
The  wooded  acreage,  about  one-half  of  the  original 
forest  acreage.  The  acreage  covered  by  prevailing 
growth  is  about  one-fourth  of  original  acreage  of 
forest. 

In  Rowan  County  the  kinds  of  timber  are  oak, 
hickory,  second  growth  pine,  short-leaf  pine,  dog- 
wood, maple,  sweet  and  black  gum,  poplar,  and  elm. 
The  prevailing  growth,  oak  and  short-leaf  pine.  The 
wooded  acreage  is  about  one-fourth  of  original  forest 
acreage.  The  acreage  covered  by  prevailing  growth 
is  about  one-eighth  of  original  forest  acreage. 

In  Cabarrus  County  the  kinds  of  timber  are  oak, 
short-leaf  pine,  hickory,  second  growth  pine,  dog- 
wood, maple,  sweet  and  black  gum,  elm,  poplar,  and 
persimmon.  The  prevailing  growth,  short-leaf  pine, 
oak,  and  second  growth  pine.  The  wooded  acreage 
is  about  one-half  of  the  original  forest  acreage.  The 
acreage  covered  by  prevailing  growth  is  about  one- 
fourth  of  original  forest  acreage. 

In  Mecklenburg  County,  the  kinds  of  timber  are 


252  THE  FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

oak,  black  jack,  and  second  growth  pine.  The  pre- 
vailing growth,  black  jack  and  second  growth  pine. 
The  wooded  acreage  is  about  one-fourth  of  original 
forest  acreage.  The  acreage  covered  by  prevailing 
growth  is  about  one-eighth  of  the  original  forest 
acreage. — W.  H.  P. 

Wake,  Chatham,  Moore,  Richmond.  (Area, 
3,575  sq.  miles.) — Route  of  Raleigh  and  Augusta  Rail- 
way.— Gary,  Aug.  9,  1882. — Wake  County.  Kind 
of  trees  are  pine,  oak,  hickory,  gum,  maple,  poplar, 
and  dogwood.  The  prevailing  growth  is  about  equally 
divided  between  pine  and  oak.  Acres  covered  by 
the  prevailing  growth,  about  one-fourth. 

Chatham  County.  Kind  of  trees  about  the  same 
as  in  Wake.  Prevailing  growth,  pine,  oak,  and  hick- 
ory. Acres  covered  by  prevailing  growth,  about  one- 
third. 

Moore  County.  Kind  of  trees,  pine,  a  few  oaks, 
and  hickory  ;  gam,  poplar,  cypress,  junijDer,  and  black 
jack.  Pine  largely  prevailing.  Acres  covered  by 
prevailing  growth,  three-fourths. 

Richmond  County.  Kind  of  trees,  oak,  poplar, 
gum,  cypress,  juniper,  black  jack,  and  pine:  the  last- 
named  largely  prevailing.  Acres  covered  by  pre- 
vailing growth,  about  two-thirds. — H.  P.  G. 

Union.  (650  sq.  miles.)— Monroe,  Sept.  8,  1882.— 
Our  forests  abound  in  short-leaf  pine,  hickory,  black, 
red,  and  white  oak,  with  some  walnut.  The  wooded 
acreage  is  about  one-third  of  the  county. — J.  D.  S. 

Vance. — Henderson,  Aug.  25, 1882, — Pine  (short- 


THE  FORESTS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.  253 

leaf),  oak,  liickory,  poplar,  gum,  and  dogwood  in  our 
forests.  In  original  forest,  about  ten  per  cent,  of 
the  county ;  in  pine,  twenty  per  cent. — E.  G.  B. 

Yadkin.  (328  sq.  miles.)  —  Huntsville,  Sept.  4, 
1882.  —  The  kinds  of  timber  in  our  forests  are  prin- 
cipally white,  black,  post,  red,  and  Spanish  oak,  hick- 
ory, pine,  black  and  sweet  gum,  some  maple  and 
sycamore,  some  black  walnut,  poplar  in  abundance ; 
also  ash,  dogwood,  sour-wood,  and  different  varieties 
of  elm.  Oak  is  the  prevailing  growth.  Fifty  per 
cent,  of  the  land  is  in  woods.  Worn-out  lands  are 
covered  with  old-field  pine.  Lands  that  were  worn 
out  thirty  years  ago,  which  were  grown  up  in  pine, 
are  now  growing  up  in  oak,  the  pines  dying  out. 
Plenty  of  all  kinds  of  timber  named  in  this  county 
for  all  purposes  for  which  such  timber  is  used. — T.  L. 

Long-leaf  Pine  Supply.  —  Forestry  Bulletin 
No.  8,  from  the  United  States  Census  Office,  gives 
the  amount  of  merchantable  pine — Long-leaved  Pine 
(Pinus  Australis)  —  standing  in  fifteen  counties  as 
follows: 

Bladen,    ....     288,000,000  feet 


Brunswick, 
Chatham, 
Columbus,   . 
Cumberland, 
Duplin, 
Harnett,  . 
Johnston,     . 
Moore,     . 


141,000,000 
448,000,000 
288,000,000 
806,000,000 
21,000,000 
486,000,000 
563,000,000 
504,000,000 


254 


THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 


New  Hanover, 
Onslow,  . 
Robeson, 
Sampson, 
Wake, 
Wayne,    . 

Total,  . 


96,000,000  feet 
34,000,000 
864,000,000 
.  602,000,000 
48,000,000 
40,000,000 

5,229,000,000  feet 


i 


APPENDIX  A 


Swamp  Land  Timber  in  Duplin  and  Pender. 
— Kenansville,  April  4,  1883. — Without  doubt,  Du- 
plin and  Pender  Counties  have  the  largest  known 
bodies  of  cypress  timber  this  side  of  the  lower 
Mississippi  bottoms. 

Citizens  own  in  Duplin  County  of  pure  mud  swamps 
in  square  miles, 80 

State    owns  in  Duplin  County  of  pure  mud  swamps 

in  square   miles, 25 

Making  in  all, 105 

At  least  30  miles  square  of  this  swamp  land  may 
be  considered  as  cypress  timber ;  and  about  the  same 
amount  is  gum  ;  there  are  about  5  miles  square,  each, 
of  sweet  gum  and  ash.  The  remainder  is  made  up 
of  a  growth  of  poplar,  maple,  spruce  pine,  hickory, 
birch,  holly,  elm,  oak  and  hornbeam. 

In  this  county  (Duplin)  there  are  large  bodies  of 
cork  gum,  known  as  "  tasteless  wood^^  very  valuable 
for  packing-boxes  for  bread,  cakes  and  candies ;  it  is 
similar  to  the  Mississippi  river  bottom  gum,  used  in 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  for  packing  crackers  for  shipment  to 
India. 

A  portion  of  the  swamps  of  Duplin  and  Pender 
are  remarkable  for  being  underlaid  with  marl  ;  and 


2545         THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

in  some  instances  it  is  only  two  or  three  feet  below 
the  surface. 

In  Pender  County,  east  of  the  Wilmington  &  Weldon 
Railroad,  owned  by  citizens,  of  overflowed  land,  in 
square   miles, 31 

Owned  by  the  State, 175 

206 

In  the  interior  of  Holly  Shelter  Pocoson  there  are 
known  to  be  drain  bottoms  or  basins  extending  nearly 
across  the  entire  length  of  the  pocoson,  which  is  40 
miles  long  ;  these  basins  are  covered  by  a  fine  growth 
of  cypress  timber.  About  two  thirds  of  this  pocoson 
is  in  Pender  County,  the  remainder  in  Onslow.  But 
it  would  be  impossible  to  give  a  correct  estimate  of 
the  area  of  this  great  interior  basin  of  timber ;  as  this- 
pocoson  has  never  been  fully  explored,  nor  even 
crossed  except  at  the  most  accessible  points. 

There  are  also  great  bodies  of  timber,  viz. :  cypress,, 
oak,  ash,  poplar,  maple,  sweet  gum,  holly  and  sour 
gum,  in  the  basins  of  Angola  Pocoson  and  the  North- 
East  River  Swamp ;  this  river  swamp  extends  across 
the  entire  County  and  is  from  one  to  two  miles  wide. 

In  this  swamp,  maples  3  feet  through  are  common ; 
holly  is  found  2i  feet  in  diameter ;  sweet  gums  from 
8  to  9  feet  through  are  found,  and  occasionally  swamp 
pines  are  found  that  are  from  5  to  7  feet  in  diameter. 

It  is  more  than  probable  that  if  all  the  cypress 
timber  in  Pender  County  was  separated  and  laid  down 
in  one  body  that  it  would  make  (60)  sixty  square 


THE   FORESTS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA.  234:0 

miles  of  this  one  kind  of  timber  that  is  so  valuable. 
And  yet,  all  this  great  mine  of  wealth  is  almost  liter- 
ally hermetically  sealed  to  the  outer  world  by  reason 
of  overflow  and  the  perpetual  miry  condition  of  the 
swamps ;  although  so  easily  reached  by  only  a  little 
labor  and  effort. 

From  time  immemorial  it  has  been  known  as  a  re- 
markable fact  that  hogs  raised  and  kept  in  Holly  Shel- 
ter and  Angola  Pocosons  are  always  free  from  all 
kinds  of  diseases,  even  the  fatal  hog  cholera :  they  feed 
upon  a  starchy,  tuberous  root,  called  by  the  natives 
tuckahoe,  and  get  very  fat  in  the  fall  when  the  root 
fully  matures ;  it  is  supposed  by  many  that  this  root 
being  eaten  by  the  hogs  prevents  cholera. 

In  an  isolated  spot  in  east  Du2:)lin,  a  beautiful  speci- 
men of  climbing  fern  has  been  found,  which  is  an  ev- 
ergreen and  grows  to  the  height  of  4  feet ;  it  belongs 
to  the  family  of  climbing  ferns  found  in  the  moun- 
tains of  Japan. 

There  has  been  found  in  Pender  County  a  tree  or- 
chid new  to  North  Carolina.  In  the  same  county,  in 
the  interior  of  Holly  Shelter  Pocoson,  there  has  been 
found  a  floating  plant  heretofore  only  found  in  Aus- 
tralia. 

It  is  more  than  probable  that  there  are  yet  other 
strange  and  rare  plants  to  be  found  in  tlie  North-East 
River  basin. 

Dr.  A.  E.  Anderson  of  Wilmington  first  used  Creep- 
ing Huckleberry,  V.  crassifolium,  [see  Hale's  For- 
estry, page  142,]  in  the  practice  of  medicine;  but 


254c?        THE   FORESTS    OF   NORTH   CAEOLINA. 

now  some  of  the  largest  druggists  in  the  United  States 
are  using  an  extract  from  this  plant  in  a  preparation 
they  put  up  for  the  dropsy.  The  medical  virtue  of 
this  plant  corresponds  with  that  of  buchu ;  and  could 
very  properly  be  termed  North  Carolina  buchu. — W. 
L.  Y. 


THE 


Farms  of  North  Carolina. 


ACRES  OF  LAND  IN  FARMS  IN  EACH  COUNTY  OF  NORTH 
CAROLINA,  ACCORDING  TO  THE  CENSUS  OF  1880. 


County. 

Improved. 

Unimproved. 

The  State,    .     .     . 

6,481,191 

15,882,367 

Alamance,       .... 

77,799 

129,269 

Alexander, 

48,985 

97,680 

Alleghany,      .... 

74,747 

75,278 

Anson, 

90,001 

192,787 

Ashe, 

117,174 

169,988 

Beaufort, 

44,887 

228,538 

Bertie,        

85,504 

202,533 

Bladen, 

40,563 

310,501 

Brunswick,     .... 

19,399 

307,680 

Buncombe, 

99,603 

241,940 

Burke,        

44,496 

140,623 

Cabarrus, 

90,514 

110,129 

Caldwell, 

47,405 

160,174 

Camden, 

36,757 

66,901 

Carteret, 

22,472 

69,660 

Caswell, 

89,885 

147,249 

Catawba, 

78,080 

141,593 

Chatham, 

126,940 

302,306 

Cherokee,       .... 

30,668 

152,041 

Chowan, 

36,052 

49,180 

Clay, 

17,691 

71,954 

Cleveland, 

87,691 

176,248 

256             THE   FARMS    OF 

NORTH   CAROLINA. 

County. 

Improved. 

Unimproved. 

Columbus,       .... 

39,031 

363,443 

Craven,    

52,392 

199,199 

Cumberland,  .... 

59,639 

314,948 

Currituck, 

41,170 

56,846 

Dare, 

2,553 

23,436 

Davidson, 

129,664 

209,331 

Davie, 

66,810 

85,607 

Duplin, 

73,061 

307,473 

Edgecombe,    .... 

136,015 

135,422 

Forsyth,        

79,350 

135,773 

Franklin, 

90,118 

175,132 

Gaston, 

70,672 

130,673 

Gates, 

49,984 

107,702 

Graham, 

8,551 

53,892 

Granville,        .... 

150,127 

240,186 

Greene, 

75,942 

86,828 

Guilford, 

148,392 

208,261 

Halifax, 

137,245 

217.,754 

Harnett, 

42,927 

186,107 

Haywood, 

52,132 

118,170 

Henderson,     .... 

45,445 

114,818 

Hertford, 

55,857 

130,261 

Hyde, 

33,153 

42,772 

Iredell, 

112,365 

211,716 

Jackson,     

32,853 

140,413 

Johnston, 

107,585 

315,235 

Jones, 

53,605 

139,324 

Lenoir, 

85,809 

128,034 

Lincoln, 

57,523 

112,832 

McDowell, 

38,795 

126,993 

Macon, 

39,370 

178,679 

Madison, 

69,087 

164,488 

Martin, 

57,030 

184,883 

Mecklenburg,    .... 

146,243 

147,164 

Mitchell, 

42,572 

108,687 

Montgomery,     .... 

48,117 

192,952 

THE  FARMS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA. 


257 


County. 


Moore,  . 
Nash,        .      .      . 
New  Hanover, 
Northampton, 
Onslow,      .     . 
Orange,    . 
Pamlico, 
Pasquotank, 
Pender,       .     . 
Perquimans, 
Person, 

Pitt,     .     .     .     , 
Polk,      .     .     . 
Randolph,     . 
Richmond, 
Robeson, 
Rockingham, 
Rowan,    .     .     , 
Rutherford,    . 
Sampson,      .     . 
Stanly, 

Stokes,     .     .     . 
Surry,    . 
Swain,      .     .     . 
Transylvania, 
Tyrrell,    .     .     . 
Union,        .     . 
Wake,      .     .     . 
Warren, 
Washington,     . 
Watauga, 
Wayne,    . 
Wilkes,      .     . 
Wilson,    .     .     . 
Yadkin,      .     . 

Vancey,    . 
9 


Improved. 


70,922 
85,085 
7,715 
99,885 
56,768 
86,401 
17,525 
51,770 
38,699 
54,433 
76,797 

107,255 
21,762 

100,888 
76,067 

120,480 
84,188 

110,178 
66,698 

121,469 
61,279 
57,393 
81,690 
14,275 
20,369 
19,801 
86,428 

161,272 
87,183 
31,695 
69,999 

123,629 

100,151 
66,027 
60,170 
45,689 


Unimproved. 


294,240 
214,716 

43,057 
172,763 
215,932 
190,192 

90,397 

46,464 
290,654 

63,994 
141,884 
227,150 

77,052 
292,996 
235,990 
403,842 
211,458 
174,553 
205,612 
396,479 
155,775 
168,780 
201,616 
108,466 

80,219 

60,293 
216,832 
316,814 
168,553 

77,360 
139,993 
195,664 
292,205 
118,885 
138,011 
113,790 


THE 


Population  of  North  Carolina, 


The  following  statement  shows  the  population  of 
each  county  in  North  Carolina,  classified  as  white 
and  colored,  and  also  the  number  of  males  of  21 
years  of  age  and  over  in  each  county,  classified  as 
native  white,  foreign  white,  and  colored,  according 
to  the  United  States  Census  of  1880. 

In  the  column  entitled  "  colored "  are  included 
the  very  few  Chinese,  Japanese,  and  Indians. 


Population. 

Males  of  21  years  of  age 
and  over. 

COUNTIES. 

i 

o 

6 

White. 

'A 

a 

be 

1 

1 

o 

The  state 

1,399,750 

867,242 

532,508 

187,637 

2,095 

105,018 

14,613 
8,355 
5,486 
17,994 
14,437 
17,474 
16,399 
16,158 
9,389 
21,909 
12,809 
14,964 
10,291 
6,274 
9,784 
17,825 
14,946 

9,997 

7  458 

4,967 

8,790 

13,471 

10,022 

6,815 

7,598 

5,337 

18,422 

10,088 

9,849 

8,691 

3,791 

7,107 

7,169 

12,469 

4,616 

897 

519 

9,204 

966 

7,452 

9,584 

8,560 

4,052 

3,487 

2,721 

5,115 

1,600 

2,483 

2,677 

10,656 

2,477 

2,174 

1,490 
1,078 
1.901 
2,635 
2,381 
1,576 
1.688 
1,183 
3  783 
2,042 
2,119 
1.732 
874 
1,700 
1,750 
2,565 

19 

4 

2 

13 

23 

34 

3 

7 

29 

69 

13 

22 

6 

12 

22 

6 

23 

873 

101 

1,654 

246 

Ashe    

1,628 

1,848 

1,570 

922 

Bertie 

Bladen  

Brunswick 

Buncombe 

771 

Burke 

448 

Cabarrus  

1  031 

Caldwell 

'263 

505 

Carteret 

485 

Caswell 

2,157 
449 

Catawba 

THE   POPULATION    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.      259 


COUNTIES. 


Population. 


Males  of  21  years  of  age 
and  over. 


White. 


Chatham 

Cherokee 

Chowan 

Clay 

Cleveland 

Columbus 

Craven 

Cumberland.... 

Currituck 

Dare 

Davidson 

Davie 

Duplin 

Edgecombe.. . 

Forsyth 

Franklin 

Gaston 

Gates 

Graham 

Granville 

Greene 

Guilford 

Halifax 

Harnett 

Haywood 

Henderson 

Hertford 

Hyde 

Iredell......... 

Jackson 

Johnston 

Jones 

Lenoir 

Lincoln 

McDowell 

Macon 

Madison 

Martin 

Mecklenburg.  . 

Mitchell 

Montgomery,.. 

Moore 

Nash 

New  Hanover.. 
Northampton  . 

Onslow 

Orange 

Pamlico 


23,453 

8,182 

7,900 

3,316 

16,571 

14,439 

19,729 

23,836 

6,476 

3,243 

20,333 

11.096 

18,773 

26,181 

18,070 

20,829 

14,254 

8,897 

2,335 

31,286 

10,037 

23,585 

30,300 

10,862 

10,271 

10,281 

11,843 

7,765 

22,675 

7,343 

23,461 

7,491 

15,344 

11,061 

9,836 

8,064 

12,810 

13,140 

34,175 

9,435 

9,374 

16,821 

17,731 

21,;<76 

20,032 

9,829 

23.698 

6,323 


15,500 
7,796 
3,633 
3,175 

13,700 
8,926 
6,664 

12.594 
4,495 
2,875 

16,341 
7,770 

10,587 
7,968 

13,441 
9,476 

10,188 
4,973 
2,123 

13,603 
4,652 

16,885 
9,137 
7,092 
9,787 
8,893 
5,122 
4,424 

16,752 
6,591 

15.996 
3.212 
7,277 
8,180 
7,939 
7,395 

12,351 
6,661 

17,922 
8,932 
6,857 

11,485 
9,417 
8.159 
7,9S7 
6.600 

14.555 
4,207 


7,953 
386 
4,267 
141 
2,871 
5,513 

13,065 

11.242 
1,981 
368 
3,992 
3,326 
8,186 

18,213 
4.629 

11,353 

4,066 

3,924 

212 

17,683 
5,385 
6,700 

21,163 

3,770 

484 

1,388 

6,721 

3,341 

5,923 

752 

7,465 

4,279 

8,067 

2.881 

1,897 

669 

459 

6.479 

16,253 

503 

2,517 

5,336 

8,314 

13,217 

12.045 
3.229 
9,143 
2.116 


3,.383 

21 

1,490 

4 

806 

5 

655 

2,832 

11 

1,864 

15 

1,634 

65 

2,669 

57 

1,063 

2 

670 

1 

3,556 

18 

1,715 

3 

2,360 

14 

1,797 

27 

3,098 

32 

2,137 

8 

2  054 

44 

1,103 

4 

411 

2 

3,161 

40 

1,096 

2 

3,882 

80 

2,196 

40 

1,552 

12 

1.870 

4 

1,770 

24 

1,200 

9 

1,088 

11 

3,510 

20 

1.248 

10 

3,382 

22 

771 

1 

1,588 

13 

1,719 

9 

1,566 

8 

1,476 

12 

2.401 

9 

1.514 

14 

4,006 

173 

1,696 

5 

1,469 

7 

2,527 

26 

2,068 

8 

1,802 

331 

1,815 

4 

1.492 

11 

3,310 

25 

1,00S 

6 

260      THE   POPULATION   OF    NOllTH   CAROLINA. 


Population. 

Males  of  21  years  of  age 
and  over. 

o 

8 

White. 

COUNTIES. 

6 

> 

d 

bJD 

j 

Pa^nnotanlc    .    -.... 

10,369 

12,468 

9,466 

13,719 

21,794 

5,062 

20,836 

18,245 

23,880 

21,744 

19,965 

15,198 

22,894 

10,505 

15,353 

15,302 

3,784 

5,340 

4,545 

18,056 

47,939 

22,619 

8,928 

8,160 

24,951 

19,181 

16,064 

12,420 

7,694 

4,855 

5,509 

4,795 

7,206 

10,704 

3,918 

17,758 

8,141 

11,942 

12,431 

13,621 

11,910 

13,347 

9.166 

11,730 

13,227 

3.234 

4,823 

3,110 

13,520 

24,289 

6,386 

4,554 

7,746 

12,827 

17,257 

8,655 

10,876 

7,369 

5,514 

6,959 

4,671 

6,513 

11,090 

1,144 

3,078 

10.104 

11,938 

9,313 

6,344 

3,288 

9,547 

1,339 

3,623 

2,075 

550 

517 

1,435 

4,536 

23,650 

16,2.33 

4,374 

414 

12,124 

1,924 

7,409 

1,544 

325 

1,118 
1,318 
1,131 
1,639 
2,468 
808 
3,854 
1,844 
2,675 
2,787 
3,012 
2,397 
2,884 
1,779 
2,442 
2,778 
648 
939 
730 
2,677 
5,691 
1,424 
1,076 
1,522 
2.884 
3,375 
1,948 
2,197 
1,416 

18 

19 

1 

4 

12 

2 

4 

27 

30 

39 

28 

11 

13 

1,148 

1,382 

PerQuinians  .  

891 

1,275 

Pitt 

2,089 

Polk        

223 

582 

Iticlimoiid 

1,844 

2,131 

Kockin2h.a.in 

1,853 

1,329 

Kutlierf  ord. 

567 

gampson      

1,647 

Stanly 

253 

Stokes 

631 

399 

116 

7 

12 

149 

64 

10 

95 

Tyrrell 

279 

U  nion 

794 

Wake    

5,128 

Warren 

2.995 

924 

78 

52 
2 
10 

1 
1 

2,382 

Wilkes      

367 

1,479 

Yadkin  

263 

Yancey 

67 

PART  III. 

THE   RAILROADS 


OF 


NORTH  CAROLINA. 


i 


THE 

Railroads  of  North  Carolina, 


The  forestry  interest  has  latterly  become  so  impor- 
tant in  this  country,  tliat  (since  this  volume  went  to 
press)  it  has  been  suggested  that  some  readers  may 
wish  to  know  something  of  the  people  who  inhabit 
and  to  see  for  themselves  the  territory  in  which  so 
great  forest  wealth  has  been  permitted  to  remain ; 
where  also  the  climate  is  excellent,  the  soil  fertile, 
the  mineral  wealth  inexhaustible,  the  water  power 
unlimited.  To  this  end,  the  information  obtained 
from  the  Census  Department  in  regard  to  the  people 
and  their  occupations  has  been  added  to  Part  II. ; 
and  Part  III.  compiled  that  those  who  wish  may 
know  existing  facilities  for  travel  and  transportation. 

The  State  of  North  Carolina  covers  an  area  of 
52,286  square  miles.  Its  land  surface  is  48,666 
square  miles ;  that  under  water  (sounds  and  bays), 
3,620  square  miles.  Thirty  railroads,  2,040  miles  in 
length  within  the  State,  make  sixty-two  counties 
which  they  enter  or  traverse  easy  of  access.  Of  the 
other  thirty-four  counties  seventeen  will  soon  be 
reached  by  roads  now  in  process  of  construction. 
Nine  hundred  miles  of  inland  steam  navigation  on 
the  Cape  Fear,  Neuse,  Tar,  Roanoke  and  Chowan 
Rivers,  and  on  the  Sounds  and  Swamp  Canals,  add 
to  the  facilities  for  travel  and  transportation. 


264       THE  EAILROADS   OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

On  the  very  accurate  map  of  North  Carolina,  pre- 
pared for  Maury's  excellent  series  of  geographies 
(adopted  by  the  State  for  use  in  its  Public  Schools), 
the  several  railroad  routes  are  distinctly  traced,  and 
the  University  Publishing  Company  of  New  York, 
by  which  these  geographies  are  issued,  has  kindly 
permitted  the  use  of  the  plates  from  which  the 
accompanying  map  is  printed.  The  traveller  with 
the  aid  of  this  map  and  the  following  notes  need  have 
no  difficulty  in  "finding  his  way"  through  North 
Carolina,  or  into  any  part  of  it  which  may  invite 
his  examination.  Forty-eight  hours  of  railroad  travel 
will  suffice  to  convey  one  from  the  most  distant 
points  of  far  New  England  to  almost  any  county  in 
North  Carolina. 

Annexed  is  a  list  of  the 

RAILROADS  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA,  1882. 

NAMES.  BETWEEN 

Asheville  and  Spartanburg,  Hendersonville,  N.  C,  and  Spartan- 
Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air-Line,  Charlot^tef  N."  C.*,  and  Atlanta.  Ga. 
Atlantic  and  North  Carolina,  Goldsboro  and  Morehead  City. 
Atlantic,  I  ennessee  and  Ohio,  Charlotte  and  Statesville. 
Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley,  Fayetteville  and  Gulf. 
Carolina  Central  Wilmington  and  Shelby. 
r!!!vf  Tf  """^^  VVadesboro  Cheraw,  S.C  ,  and  Wadesboro,  N.C. 
Chailotte,  Col.iinbia  and  Augusta,  Charlotte,  N.  C.  and  Augusta,  Ga. 
SfiML^'^i'  ^^"''.V;'        .  c  I^^"^''--  N.  C,  and  Chestlr.  S.  C. 
mnville,  .MocksvilleandSouthwes'n,  Danville,  Va.,  and  Leaksville  N  C 
5fitn>in"r--^/''^  and  Western  N.C,  Johnson  C'y,Tenn.,and  Cranberry.N.C. 
Elizabeth  City  and  Norfolk,  Edenton,  N.  C  .  and  Norfolk,  Vaf 
Halifax  and  Scotland  Neck,  Halifax  and  Hill's  Ferry 
Jamesville  and  Washington,  Jamesville  and  Washington. 
S.^"o  "'^'^^^^•^^'''"'•  Milton,  N.  C.  and  Sutherlin,  Va. 
^orth  Carolina  Goldsboro  and  Charlotte. 
Northwestern  North  Carolina,  Greensboro  and  Salem. 
North  Carolina  Midland,  Goldsboro  and  Smithfield. 
Oxford  and  Henderson,  Oxford  and  Henderson. 
Petersburg,  Petersburg,  Va.,  and  Weldon,  N.  G. 
^oi  ™i!     '^  A          .     ....  Greensboro.  N.C,  and  Danville,  Va. 
Kaleigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line,  Kaleigh  and  Hamlet. 
Kaleigh  and  Gaston,  Raleigh  and  Weldon. 


THE   RAILROADS    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA.        265 

NAMES.  BETWEEN 

Seaboard  and  Kaleigh,  "Williamston  and  Tarboro, 

Seaboard  and  Koauoke,  Portsmouth,  Va  ,  and  Weldon,  N.  C. 

Tarboro  Branch,  Kocky  Mount  and  Tarboro. 

University,  University  Station  and  Chapel  Hill. 

Wiliniugton  and  Weldon,  Wilmington  and  Weldon. 
Wilmington,  Columbia  and  Augusta,    Wilmington,  N.  C,  and  Columbia,  S.  C. 

Western  North  Carolina,  Salisbury  and  Paint  liock. 

The  Asheville  and  Spartanburg  Railroad 
has  its  present  terminus  at  Henderson ville,  N.  C. 
Twenty  miles  of  track  are  yet  to  be  laid  to  complete 
it  to  Asheville,  where  it  will  make  connection  with 
all  the  North  Carolina  Roads  and  with  Roads  to  the 
north  and  west;  at  Spartanburg,  S.  C,  it  already 
connects  with  the  through  lines  of  travel.  Its  pres- 
ent completed  length  is  49  miles,  passing  from  Spar- 
tanburg, S.  C,  into  Polk  and  Henderson  counties,  N. 
C.  The  Richmond  and  Danville  Company  controls 
it,  and  the  Asheville  connection  will  soon  be  made. 

The  Atlanta  and  Charlotte  Air-Line  Rail- 
road, 269  miles  in  length,  reaches  Charlotte,  N.  C, 
from  Atlanta,  Ga.,  through  Cleveland,  Gaston  and 
Mecklenburg  counties,  N.  C.  At  Charlotte,  a  thriv- 
ing railroad  centre,  the  traveller  finds  railroad  con- 
nections north,  south,  east  and  west.  The  Road  is 
the  property,  by  lease,  of  the  Richmond  and  Danville 
Company. 

The  Atlantic  and  North  Carolina  Railroad, 
95  miles  in  length,  passes  from  Morehead  City  (Beau- 
fort Harbor)  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  through  the 
counties  of  Carteret,  •  Craven,  Jones  and  Lenoir  to 
the  thriving  town  of  Golclsboro  in  Wayne  county, 
where  it  connects  with  the  great  lines  of  railway 
north,  south  and  west. 


266        THE   RAILROADS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA. 

The  Atlantic,  Tennessee  a^^d  Ohio  Railroad, 
47  miles  long,  connects  Charlotte  with  the  Western 
North  Carolina  Road  at  Statesville,  passing  through 
the  northern  half  of  Mecklenburg  and  the  southern 
half  of  Iredell  county.  It  is  leased  to  the  Richmond 
and  Danville. 

The  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley  Railroad 
is  in  operation  from  Fayetteville,  the  prospering  head 
of  steam  navigation  on  the  Cape  Fear  River,  to  Gulf, 
Chatham  County — a  distance  of  47  miles — passing 
through  Cumberland,  Harnett  and  Moore  into  Chat- 
ham. Its  further  route  is  graded  and  bridged  from 
Gulf  through  Chatham  and  Randolph  to  Greensboro 
in  Guilford  county,  52  miles ;  and  is  graded  from 
Greensboro  to  Walnut  Cove  in  Stokes  County,  30 
miles  beyond.  The  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin  Valley 
Road  also  owns  the  graded  route  of  the  Fayetteville 
and  Florence  Road  from  Fayetteville  to  the  South 
Carolina  line,  48  miles.  The  whole  route  will  be 
rapidly  completed  after  a  slight  change  in  the  charter, 
to  be  made  by  the  Legislature  in  January,  1883,  and 
when  finished  will  pass  from  a  point  on  the  Carolina 
Central  Railroad  through  the  counties  of  Robeson, 
Cumberland,  Harnett,  Moore,  Chatham,  Randolph, 
Guilford,  Forsyth,  Stokes,  Surry,  Yadkin,  Wilkes, 
Caldwell  and  Mitchell. 

The  Carolina  Central  Railway  passes  from 
Wilmington,  the  largest  city  of  the  State  and  a  sea- 
port of  great  and  growing  foreign  and  domestic  trade, 
242  miles  to  Shelby.     It  traverses  the   counties  of 


THE    IIAILRO.VDS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.        267 

New  Hanover,  Brunswick,  Columbus,  Bladen,  Robe- 
son, Richmond,  Anson,  Union,  Mecklenburg,  Gaston, 
Lincoln  and  Cleveland.  At  Wilmington,  it  connects 
with  roads  leading  north  and  south  and  with  the  Cape 
Fear  River  and  Ocean  steamers ;  at  Hamlet  with  the 
Raleigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line,  which  is  under  the 
same  management ;  at  Wadesboro  with  the  South 
Carolina  Roads;  and  at  Charlotte  with  roads  in  every 
direction. 

The  Cheraw  and  Wadesboro  Road  connects 
Anson  county  with  the  South  Carolina  Roads,  and 
the  Carolina  Central  at  Wadesboro  gives  it  an  outlet 
to  all  parts  of  North  Carolina.  Its  present  length  in 
North  Carolina  is  11  miles.  Its  projected  northern 
terminus  is  at  Salisbury,  Rowan  county. 

The  Charlotte,  Columbia  and  Augusta  Rail- 
road is  another  of  Charlotte's  connections  with  the 
outside  world.  Its  length  is  191  miles,  14  of  which 
are  in  Mecklenburg  county.  It  is  part  of  the  Rich- 
mond and  Danville  System. 

The  Chester  and  Lenoir  is  a  narrow  gauge 
railroad,  at  present  63  miles  long,  passing  from  Ches- 
ter, S.  C,  on  the  Charlotte,  Columbia  and  Augusta 
Road,  through  Gaston  and  Lincoln  counties,  N.  C, 
to  Lincolnton.  Twenty-seven  miles  remain  to  be 
built  to  its  terminus  at  Lenoir,  Caldwell  county. 

The  Danville,  Mocksville  and  Soi^thwest- 
ERN  Railroad  is  completed  from  Danville,  Va.,  to 
Leaksville,  Rockingham  county,  N.  C.  It  is  part  of 
the  North  Carolina  Extension  of  the  Virginia  Mid- 


268       THE   RAILROADS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

land,  is  controlled  by  the  Richmond  and  Danville, 
and  will  be  completed  across  the  State  to  its  southern 
border  at  Charlotte. 

The  East  Tennessee  and  Western  North 
Carolina  Railroad,  34  miles  long,  connects  the 
celebrated  Cranberry  mines  in  Mitchell  county,  N. 
C,  with  the  East  Tennessee,  Virginia  and  Georgia 
Road,  at  Johnson  City,  Tennessee. 

The  Elizabeth  City  and  Norfolk  Railroad  is 
in  operation  for  75  miles,  passing  from  Norfolk,  Va., 
through  Currituck,  Camden,  Pasquotank,  Perquimans 
and  Chowan  counties,  N.  C,  to  Edenton  on  the  Al- 
bemarle Sound.  The  Road  will  probably  be  contin- 
ued across  the  State  through  the  eastern  counties. 
At  present,  Edenton's  other  connections  are  by  in- 
land steam  navigation  on  the  rivers  and  sounds. 

The  Halifax  and  Scotland  Neck  is  a  branch 
road  from  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  at  Halifax  to 
Scotland  Neck,  Halifax  county.  Its  length  is  20 
miles  and  it  connects  with  Roanoke  River  steamers 
for  Norfolk,  Baltimore,  etc. 

The  Jamesville  and  Washington  Road,  29 
miles  long,  connects  Jamesville,  in  Martin  county, 
with  inland  and  ocean  navigation  at  Washington, 
Beaufort  county. 

The  Midland  North  Carolina  Railroad,  a 
road  projected  from  Goldsboro  to  Salisbury,  is  in 
operation  from  Goldsboro,  in  Wayne  county,  to 
Smithfield,  Johnston  county,  22  miles. 

The  Milton  and  Sutherlin  Narrow  Gauge  Rail- 


THE   RAILROADS    OF   NORTH   CAROLINA.        2G9 

road,  9  miles  long,  connects  Milton,  Caswell  county, 
with  the  Richmond  and  Danville  Road  at  Sutlierlin,Va. 

The  North  Carolina  Railroad,  223  miles  in 
length,  passes  from  Goldsboro  through  Wayne,  John- 
ston, Wake,  Durham,  Orange,  Alamance,  Guilford, 
Davidson,  Rowan,  Cabarrus,  Mecklenburg,  to  Char- 
lotte. At  Goldsboro  it  connects  with  the  great  lines 
of  travel  north  and  south  by  the  Wilmington  and 
Weldon  Railroad ;  at  Raleigh  by  the  Raleigh  and 
Gaston  (north)  and  the  Raleigh  and  Augusta  Air- 
Line  (south)  ;  at  Greensboro  with  the  Richmond  and 
Danville  System  by  its  junction  wdth  the  Piedmont 
Road ;  at  Charlotte  with  the  Carolina  Central,  east 
and  west,  and  with  the  Richmond  and  Danville  Roads, 
heretofore  noted,  going  south  and  west.  It  also 
forms  part  of  a  line  of  completed  road,  526  miles  in 
length,  reaching  from  the  Atlantic  coast  at  Morehead 
to  Paint  Rock  on  the  western  State  line  and  to  Pig- 
eon River  in  Haywood  county,  and  traversing  the 
twenty  counties  of  Carteret,  Craven,  Jones,  Lenoir, 
Wayne,  Johnston,  Wake,  Durham,  Orange,  Alamance, 
Guilford,  Davidson,  Rowan,  Iredell,  Catawba,  Burke, 
McDowell,  Buncombe,  Haywood,  Madison.  The 
Road  is  leased  to  the  Richmond  and  Danville,  which 
also  owns  the  Road  from  Salisbury  to  Paint  Rock 
and  Pigeon  River. 

The  Northwestern  North  Carolina  Road  is 
a  branch  of  the  North  Carolina  Road,  owned  l)y  the 
Richmond  and  Danville  Road, and  passing  from  the  im- 
portant and  prosperous  town  of  Greensboro,  through 


270        THE   RAILROADS    OF    NORTH   CAROLINA. 

Guilford  and  Forsyth,  to  the  thriving  manufacturing 
centre  at  Salem-Winston.     Its  length  is  25  miles. 

The  Oxford  and  Henderson  Railroad  is  13 
miles  long.  It  runs  from  Henderson,  the  rapidly 
growing  county  seat  of  Vance,  on  the  Raleigh  and 
Gaston  Road,  to  Oxford,  the  prosperous  county  town 
•of  Granville. 

The  Piedmont  Railroad,  49  miles,  passes  from 
Danville,  Va.,  through  Caswell,  Rockingham  and 
Guilford  counties  to  Greensboro,  where  it  makes  con- 
nection with  the  whole  system  of  North  Carolina 
Roads.  It  is  owned  by  the  Richmond  and  Danville, 
and  is  part  of  one  of  the  great  through  routes  from 
north  to  south. 

The  Petersburg  Railroad,  63  miles  long,  passes 
from  Virginia  through  Northampton  county,  N.  C, 
to  the  noted  railroad  centre,  Weldon,  in  Halifax 
county,  where  it  connects  with  the  Raleigh  and  Gas- 
ton and  Wilmington  and  Weldon  through  routes. 

The  Raleigh  and  Augusta  Air-Line  Railroad, 
99  miles  in  length,  passes  from  Raleigh,  the  State 
Capital,  through  Wake,  Chatham,  Moore  and  Rich- 
mond counties,  to  Hamlet,  where  its  connection  with 
the  Carolina  Central  (under  the  same  management) 
makes  a  through  route  east  and  south  by  Wilming- 
ton and  west  and  south  by  Charlotte.  At  Sanford, 
Moore  county,  it  crosses  the  Cape  Fear  and  Yadkin 
Valley  Road,  thus  connecting  with  Fayetteville  and 
the  river  steamers  on  the  Cape  Fear. 

The  Raleigh  and  Gaston  Railroad  is  98  miles 
long.     It  runs  from  Weldon  through  Halifax,  War- 


THE   RAILROADS    OF   NORTH    CAROLINA.         271 

ren,  Vance,  Franklin  and  Wake  counties  to  Raleigh, 
where  it  connects  with  the  Raleicfh  and  Auofusta 
(under  the  same  management)  and  with  the  North 
Carolina  Road  east  and  west.  At  Weldon  it  con- 
nects with  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon,  going  south, 
and  with  the  Petersburg  Road  and  the  Seaboard  and 
Roanoke  Road,  going  north.  The  last  named  is 
under  the  same  management,  which  owns  a  line  of 
travel  from  Baltimore  to  Wilmington  and  Charlotte. 

The  Seaboard  and  Roanoke  Railroad  is  80 
miles  long.  Coming  from  Norfolk,  Va.,  it  passes 
through  Northampton  count}',  N.  C,  to  Weldon, 
where  it  makes  connection  Avith  the  Wilmington  and 
Weldon  and  Raleigh  and  Gaston  Roads. 

The  Seaboard  and  Raleigh  Railroad  is  in  op- 
eration for  45  miles,  from  Tarboro,  through  Edge- 
combe, Pitt  and  Martin  counties,  to  Williamston  on 
the  Roanoke.  At  Williamston  it  finds  deep  water 
and  steam  navigation  ;  at  Tarboro,  railroad  connec- 
tion with 

The  Tarboro  Branch,  which  passes  through 
Edgecombe,  17  miles,  to  Rocky  Mount  on  the  Wil- 
mington and  Weldon  through  line. 

The  University  Railroad,  11  miles  long,  is  owned 
by  the  Richmond  and  Danville,  and  runs  from  Uni- 
versity Station  on  the  North  Carolina  Railroad  to  the 
immensely  valuable  iron  mines  near  the  State  Uni- 
versity at  Chapel  Hill,  Orange  county. 

The  Western  North  Carolina  Railroad,  now 
the  property  of  the  Richmond  and  Danville,  is  in 
operation   from   Salisbury  through  Rowan,    Iredell, 


iiY^        THE   RAILROADS    OF    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

Catawba,  Burke,  McDowell,  Buncombe  and  Madison 
counties  to  Paint  Rock — a  distance  of  189  miles. 
At  Salisbury,  the  eastern  terminus,  it  connects  with 
the  North  Carolina  Road;  at  Paint  Rock  with  the 
East  Tennessee,  Virginia  and  Georgia  Road.  The 
Ducktown  Branch  is  completed  from  Asheville  to 
Pigeon  River,  Haywood  county,  and  rapid  progress 
is  made  in  grading  the  remainder  of  the  route  through 
Jackson,  Swain,  Macon  and  Cherokee  counties. 

The  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Railroad  trav- 
erses the  State  from  north  to  south.  It  passes,  163 
miles,  from  Weldon  through  Halifax,  Nash,  Edge- 
combe, Wilson,  Wayne,  Duplin,  Pender  and  New 
Hanover  counties  to  Wilmington.  It  owns  and  ope- 
rates a  branch  road  from  Halifax  to  Scotland  Neck, 
20  miles ;  another  from  Rocky  Mount  to  Tarboro,  17 
miles ;  and  is  now  locating  a  road  from  Wilson  to 
Florence,  S.  C,  which  will  pass  thrqugh  the  North 
Carolina  counties  of  Wilson,  Johnston,  Harnett, 
Cumberland  and  Robeson,  and  connect  with  river 
and  rail  at  Fayetteville.  This  road  connects  at  Wel- 
don with  the  Raleigh  and  Gaston,  the  Petersburg, 
and  the  Seaboard  and  Roanoke  Roads ;  at  Goldsboro 
with  the  North  Carolina  and  the  Atlantic  and  North 
Carolina;  at  Wilmington  with  the  Cape  Fear  River  and 
Ocean  steamers,  the  Carolina  Central  Railway,  and 

The  Wilmington,  Columbia  and  Augusta 
Railroad,  which  is  189  miles  in  length  and^part  of 
the  great  Seaboard  through  route.  It  passes  from 
Wilmington  into  South  Carolina  through  Brunswick 
and  Columbus  counties,  N.  C. 


m^C  Stai^  College 


JAN    7  4 

W^iMr     N.  MANCHESTER, 
INDIANA 


